fixcomputer

Keyboard Shortcuts For I.E., Safari, And Firefox

2006-09-14T04:44:00.000-07:00

Short Tutorial - Keyboard Shortcuts For Internet Explorer, Safari, And Firefox

Microsoft Corp. provides simple keyboard shortcuts for its Internet Explorer browser. Likewise, Apple's Safari browser and Mozilla's Firefox browser provide similar shortcuts. Use these easy keystroke shortcuts and you may never need to use your mouse again — well, almost never. Here are a few of the more commonly used shortcuts for each of these browsers:

Safari MACINTOSH

Shortcuts for . . .

Finding things:

* Press on the "CMD" key and the "F" key to open a "Find" box. This allows you to find words located on the web page you currently have open.
* Press on the "CMD," "Option," and "F" keys simultaneously to select the Google search box.

Moving within a web page:

* Press on the "tab" key to move forward through the items on a web page.
* Press on the "Arrow" keys to scroll up, down, left, or right within a page.
* Press on the "Option" and an arrow key to scroll in larger increments.
* Press on the "Page Down" key or "Space bar" to scroll down a screen.
* Press on the "Page Up" key or "Shift" and the "Space bar" to scroll up a screen.

Moving between web pages:

* Press on the "CMD," "Shift," and "]" keys simultaneously to select the next tab.
* Press on the "CMD," "Shift," and "[" keys simultaneously to select the previous tab.
* Press on the "ESC" key (the Escape key) to stop a web page from downloading.
* Press on the "CMD" key and the "N" key to open an additional browser window.
* Press on the "CMD" key and the "W" key to close the current browser window.

Internet Explorer WINDOWS

Shortcuts for . . .

Finding things:

* Press on the "CTRL" key and the "F" key to open a "Find" box. This allows you to find words located on the web page you currently have open.

Moving within a web page:

* Press on the "tab" key to move forward through the items on a web page.
* Press on the "up arrow symbol" to scroll up toward the beginning of a document.
* Press on the "down arrow symbol" to scroll down toward the end of a document. (You can also press on the space bar on your keyboard to scroll down the page.)
* Press on the "PAGE UP" key to scroll toward the beginning of a document in larger increments.
* Press on the "PAGE DOWN" key to scroll toward the end of a document in larger increments.
* Press on the "HOME" key to move to the beginning of a document.
* Press on the "END" key to move to the end of a document.

Moving between web pages:

* Press on the "CTRL" key and the "N" key to open an additional browser window.
* Press on the "CTRL" key and the "W" key to close the current browser window.
* Press on the "F11" key to toggle between full-screen and regular views of the browser window.
* Press on the "ALT" and "HOME" keys to go to your Home page.
* Press on the "ALT" and "Right Arrow" keys to go to the next page.
* Press on the "ALT" and "LEFT ARROW" or "BACKSPACE" keys to go to the previous page.
* Press on the "ESC" key (the Escape key) to stop a web page from downloading.

Firefox MACINTOSH and PC

Shortcuts for . . .

Moving between web pages:

Back

* (PC) Press on the "ALT" and "Left Arrow" keys to go back one page.
* (Mac) Press on the "delete" key to go back one page.

Forward

* (PC) Press on the "ALT" and "Right Arrow" keys to go forward one page.
* (Mac) Press on the "Shift" and "delete" keys to go forward one page.

Home

* (PC) Press on the "ALT" and "Home" keys to go to your startup page.
* (Mac) Press on the "Opt" and "Home" keys to go to your startup page.

Stop

* (PC) Press on the "CTRL" and "." keys to stop a page from loading.
* (Mac) Press on the "CMD" and "." keys to stop a page from loading.
* (BOTH) Press on the "Esc" key to stop a page from loading.

Close Tab

* (PC) Press on the "CTRL" and "W" keys to close a tab.
* (Mac) Press on the "CMD" and "W" keys to close a tab.

Close Window

* (PC) Press on the "CTRL," "Shift," and "W" keys simultaneously to close a window.
* (Mac) Press on the "CMD," "Shift," and "W" keys simultaneously to close a window.

Next Tab

* (PC) Press on the "CTRL" and "Page Down" keys to go to the next tab.
* (Mac) Press on the "CMD," "Opt," and "Right Arrow" keys simultaneously to go to the next tab.

Previous Tab

* (PC) Press on the "CTRL" and "Page Up" keys to go to the previous tab.
* (Mac) Press on the "CMD," "Opt," and "Left Arrow" keys simultaneously to go to the previous tab.

Bookmarking . . .

Bookmark All Tabs

* (PC) Press on the "CTRL," "Shift," and "D" keys simultaneously to bookmark all tabs.
* (Mac) Press on the "CMD," "Shift," and "D" keys simultaneously to bookmark all tabs.

Bookmark Current Page

* (PC) Press on the "CTRL" and "D" keys to bookmark the current page.
* (Mac) Press on the "CMD" and "D" keys to bookmark the current page.

View Bookmarks

* (PC) Press on the "CTRL" and "B" keys to view your bookmarks.
* (Mac) Press on the "CMD" and "B" keys to view your bookmarks.

Geek Daddy

2006-08-06T17:10:00.000-07:00

Keeping your computer free of malicious software can be tough sometimes. Here is a website that helps explain clearly what you need to do and how to do it. The site also contains links to popular programs used to keep your computer running smooth.

GeekDaddy
"D"

Unplug Your Computers/Modems/Phones - During Threatening Weather

2006-05-20T06:35:00.000-07:00

Springtime starts off another season of electrical storms. Just a reminder from Connections, Etc. to unplug your computers, your modems (if you have an external modem), your fax machines, VCR's, cable outlets, and your phone when the weather looks threatening outside. A lightning strike to the electrical lines and/or phone lines leading to either your computer or external modem can cause serious damage - and even a fire!

An electronic surge protector which includes a built-in phone line protector is a great idea, but it does not provide a 100% guaranteed protection. So, unplug, unplug, unplug.

- The Connections, Etc. Internet Team

Ask The Help Desk - What is an RSS Feed?

2006-05-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

Question: I've heard about people getting Web content via RSS feeds? What is an RSS feed?

Answer: RSS, which stands for "really simple syndication" or "RDF site summary," is an Internet-based information delivery system to which you can subscribe to have news and other information delivered to your computer, much like a newspaper delivered to your front doorstep.

RSS allows news website developers to distribute their news and information to customers who gather it in software known as "RSS readers." This information usually includes the news website's headlines and article summaries that you click on for more information.

If a website offers RSS subscriptions, it's usually indicated with some descriptive copy and an orange button labeled "XML" or a blue button labeled "RSS." Just click this button, then copy and paste the appropriate web address URL into your reader to visit the site and retrieve headlines and article summaries you have requested.

- The Connections, Etc. Internet Team

Short Tutorial - How To Speed Up Slow E-Mail

2006-05-20T06:32:00.000-07:00

Granted, e-mail is much faster than snail mail. But even e-mail software can slow down if you don't keep up with maintenance on your database. Have you noticed any of these symptoms?

* Slow launching of your e-mail program
* Slow opening of links contained in e-mail messages
* E-mail messages not showing up properly or not showing up at all

If this sounds familiar, it may be time to do some maintenance on the database where your messages are stored. The best maintenance you can do is to delete old messages you no longer need and then "compact" your database. To do this, follow the steps below.

Cleaning Up and Compacting Outlook Express 6.0 When Using Windows XP Home Edition

1. With Outlook Express open, click your cursor arrow on the "Tools" menu and select "Options."
2. When the Options window appears, click the "Maintenance" tab.
3. About half way down the window you will see the "Clean Up Now" button. Click on it and the "Local File Clean Up" window will appear.
4. Click on the "Compact" button.
5. Click "Close" and then "OK."
6. Quit Outlook Express and then reopen Outlook Express.

Cleaning Up and Compacting Entourage 2004 When Using Macintosh OS X

1. While opening Entourage, hold down the "Option" key on your keyboard.
2. Select "Compact Database" by clicking on the radio button.
3. Click "Continue."

If compacting your Entourage database does not improve its performance, repeat the process. However, this time select "Rebuild Database" from the choices.

- The Connections, Etc. Internet Team

Ask The Help Desk - Why Can't I See Graphics In My Incoming E-mail Messages?

2006-03-22T18:13:00.000-08:00

Question: Why can't I see graphics on incoming e-mail messages anymore? I used to be able to see them. I use Microsoft's Windows XP and Outlook Express.

Answer: Microsoft Corp. developed and released software called Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP users in the fall of 2004. Its purpose was to "patch holes" in some of Microsoft's software programs to help reduce the threat of e-mail viruses, e-mail worms, and hacker attacks. SP2 most specifically eliminated many of the vulnerabilities within its Internet Explorer browser and Outlook Express software programs. Most Windows XP users have since downloaded SP2.

One of SP2's protective measures for Outlook Express is to block images from being displayed within incoming e-mail messages as a default setting. Microsoft had discovered that some virus/worm threats arose from malicious code within the graphics of e-mail messages. Microsoft's solution was to prevent users from seeing any graphics within e-mail messages. This is probably the reason you are no longer able to see graphics within your e-mail messages.

Luckily, Microsoft provides an easy option to allow images to appear within messages, either on a per e-mail basis or for all e-mail messages. To see graphics within messages on an e-mail-by-e-mail basis, with your Preview Pane open, follow these steps:

1. Click your cursor arrow on the gray bar located just below the subject line of the message. It will say, "Some pictures have been blocked to help prevent the sender from identifying your computer. Click here to download pictures." If you click anywhere on this gray bar, the pictures for that particular e-mail will appear for as long as you have that e-mail open.

2. If you go to a different e-mail and then come back to this message, you will need to click on that bar again to see the images within the message.

Note: If you don't see the gray bar, open the message in its own window and follow steps one and two above. Otherwise, click your cursor arrow on the "View" menu and drop down to "Layout." When the "Window Layout Properties" window appears, make sure "Show preview pane header" is checked.

If you want to be able to see all pictures on all incoming e-mail messages that contain images, you can disable SP2's default blocking feature by following the steps below.

1. Go to the Outlook Express "Tools" menu and drop down to "Options." When the "Options" window appears, click on the "Security" tab. About half way down the window you'll see an item titled "Download images." You will see a checkbox next to the words "Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail." If you uncheck this box, it will allow images to be viewed again just as it was before your SP2 update.

2. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save your new settings and close the window.

Why you should Blog using Firefox.

2006-02-19T17:52:00.000-08:00

Blogging, using Internet Explorer is wasting your time. "Time is money" We all know this. Firefox allows you to easily flip between many sites using "Tabbed Browsing" I know "Tabbed Browsing" has been talked about sooo much that it's getting old. Now IE is adding it, they're "keeping up with the Jones". So what. This is all about the extensions available in Firefox. Where to begin...

Extensions important to Blogging as I know it.

1. IE View This allows you to see how your site looks in IE with one simple click. The click opens the current page in IE so you can easily compare how it looks in the two browsers. Why this is important...approximately 15% of internet users are using Firefox so you want your site to look good there as well.

2. Context Search This allows you to highlight any word or phrase on any page and search it with your choice of search engines or even del.icio.us if you want.The results open in a new tab for your convenience. This saves many clicks and/or time typing into an address bar. "Time is money"

3. Session Saver This allows you to resume where you left off. What that means is you can reload all the pages you lost when you accidentially closed your browser or restore a single page that you accidentially closed. One click simple. This saves alot of time...I thought I would never use but it I have and I was thankful for it.

4. Just Blog It This allows you to highlight text on the net and post it right to your blog. 2 to 3 clicks and you have a new post. This works with an extensive list of blog hosts such as: Blogger, Movable Type, Drupal, Journalspace etc. The Blog host doesn't matter because you can input your own if it isn't in the list.

All told I think that using Firefox to do your Blogging could be an important step towards more enjoyable Blogging.

"D"

Google talk/Gmail home made smily's

2006-02-19T16:20:00.000-08:00

Just messing around with the new Gmail Google talk function and found out that if you type the old venerable smily :-) it spins upright so it is an actual smily face so to speak. The winking smily works also ;-) so does the frowning smily :-( but the winking, frowning smily does not. I would like to see how many other smily's and/or other simple emoticons work. If you find new ones please post them here and let everyone know. These only work if you are chatting through the Gmail interface. I haven't seen them in the Google talk pane yet.
"D"

I guess I was a bit slow. 2 days slow in fact. Thats ok though, I'm not in someones hip pocket for the 411. Thought I had a good one though.
"D"

Turn Off E-mail Sound Alerts When Receiving Incoming E-mail

2006-02-18T16:59:00.000-08:00

Most e-mail software programs are set as a default to check for incoming e-mail messages every ten minutes. If a message or messages have been received, an e-mail sound alert notifies the computer user that a message or messages are available for him/her to read. However, it can become somewhat annoying to hear these e-mail sound alerts going off every ten minutes. To turn off the audio on these e-mail sound alerts, follow the steps below.

Removing E-mail Sound Alerts In Outlook Express When Using Windows XP:

1. With Outlook Express open, go to the "Tools" menu and drop down to "Options." The "Options" window will appear.
2. Click your cursor arrow on the "General" tab.
3. Look for "Send/Receive Messages" and uncheck the box next to "Play sound when new messages arrive."
4. Click "OK."

Removing E-mail Sound Alerts In Thunderbird 1.0.7 When Using Windows XP:

1. With Thunderbird open, go to the "Tools" menu and drop down to "Options." The "Options" window will appear.
2. Click your cursor arrow on the "General" icon.
3. Find the settings for "When new messages arrive" and uncheck the box next to "Play a sound."
4. Click "OK."

Removing E-mail Sound Alerts In Netscape 7.2 When Using Windows XP:

1. With Netscape Navigator open, go to the "Edit" menu and drop down to "Preferences." The "Preferences" window will appear.
2. Under "Category," click your cursor arrow on "Mail & Newsgroups."
3. Click on "Notifications."
4. Uncheck the box under "When new messages arrive."
5. Click "OK."

Or...You can have some fun and change the default notification sound to something fun, like the "you got mail" AOL bit.
Click here for a search on that file You got mail !

"D"

Getting rid of an Unwanted toolbar

2006-02-17T11:16:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed an extra toolbar on your Internet Explorer? Have you wondered what it was for? Did you think someone else who uses the computer installed it?
Chances are that what that toolbar really is, is Spyware/Malware and it's causing you to see more pop-ups than usual. Not to mention it's slowing your computer down.

Get rid of it!

#1 Ask all of the users of the computer if they installed it and why or if they really need it.
#2 If no one knows or wants it...dump it...now.
#3 Try to uninstall it from an uninstaller located in the programs list (good programs have these).
#4 Try to uninstall it using the add/remove programs located in the control panel.

If these don't work...You will need to download and install a few programs to get rid of this "infection"

#1 Go to Lavasoft and download Adaware SE then install and run this program...sit back and relax until this program has run it's course. When it is finished you will be presented with a list of files it considers to be Spyware/Malware. Right click on this list somewhere and select "check all". Then select "fix problems" or "delete problems" or similar option to rid yourself of these infections. You may be required to reboot your computer afterward.

#2 Now go to Javacools software and download and install Spyware Guard. This blocks Spyware/Malware from entering your computer. (Doesn't stop everything)

If you are running MS windows XP sp2 Go to Step #3 if not Go to step #4

#3 Go to MS Anti-spyware an download this product and install it. This will automaticaly search for Spyware on your computer everyday and it will also block spyware.
or
#4 Go to Safer Networking and download Spybot SD. Install it and then run it. You will need to run this periodicaly as it doesn't have an auto run feature that we like.

#5 These programs are FREE but some of the developers do take donations so if it works for you send them a buck or two or click on the ads on their site.

"D"

Send large attachments in email FREE

2006-02-12T05:26:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted to email large files (up to 1 Gig) but found certain limitations from your email provider ( MSN, Yahoo, etc.)
Check out this free service that allows you to send these large files, as attachments and it checks for viruses as well. Can't beat that!
Mail Big File @ mailbigfile.com
"D"

IE 7 is worth a try!

2006-02-05T09:12:00.000-08:00

==IE 7 is fast!==

The start-up time for IE 7 is fast compared to Firefox. I did a double take because it started up so fast. I don't know if this will change as the browser gets older but right now it's big plus!

The download size is under 12 MB which is almost unbelieveable for IE. This actually shocked me. I was expecting 20+MB. But 12MB is still roughly 3 times the size of Firefox.

I imagine there are about 10,000 Firefox vs. IE7 comparison articles out there and I'm sure there are some fanatics out there slamming one or the other. I don't believe that people want to hear all negative things about stuff. Positive information is alot better!

I sound like a wuss! Whatever!

I suggest you give IE 7 a try ane see for yourself and if you have any questions, i'll try and help if I can. Either post a comment or email me.

"D"

p.s. don't be alarmed with the beta status if you have problems, uninstall the program.
p.s.s. Be ALARMED there is no uninstall for this BETA ****Use Caution**** I guess.
or just go to TechEnclave for the uninstall information.

RSS in IE7

2006-02-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

The RSS reader feature included in IE7 is very easy to use and enjoy. It may or may not include all the neat and/or trendy features included in other RSS readers, but it is user friendly.
When you find a site that contains regularly updated stories centered around topics you are interested in, RSS comes in real handy. What you do is you subscribe to the "feed" (Orange and white button near the home page button at the top) and then when you want to "browse" the headlines, you click on the "feed" located in the "favorites center" (circle star at far left) in IE7 then click on your "feed" and read. Now, remember you are only getting a headline and maybe two or three sentences of the first paragraph of the article.
This is all done so you can decide to read it before you actually load the site. Saving your time for more valuable things like solitaire or super breakout.
Stay tuned for more IE7 stuff as I discover it.
"D"

Internet Explorer7 public beta

2006-02-04T15:10:00.000-08:00

=============This is not a bash on IE7==============

I am a Mozilla user. Firefox has been my default browser for 1.5 years. There have been ups and downs, but I like the huge variety of options available with Firefox. Overall I have been extremely happy with Firefox.

Today, I have downloaded the Internet Explorer 7 beta to "test it out".

I was not surprised that I had to restart my computer after the install.

IE7 created some controversey with the spyware/malware protection programs installed on my machine. But after repeated clicks on "allow this action" everything settled down.

IE7 seamlessly imported my old favorites from IE6.

IE7 also seamlessly worked right away with Google tool bar.

For those of you with no experience using "Tabbed browsing" you may be at first confused.

Try this... Click your scroll wheel on a link in a webpage. This will open the page associated with that link, in a new tab. You will see this tab at the top of the screen right below the main IE7 bar. Click on this tab to view the new page you have opened. This feature makes website comparison much easier it also allows for much easier navigation.
For example: You want to copy and paste some information to your Blog to share with others. Now you don't have to jump around through 7 or 8 open windows to find the certain page you are looking for you just click through the tabs. Sound the same but once you get used to it, you will love it.

Stay tuned for more info about IE7 as I discover it
"D"

Trying the new Kaspersky

2006-01-29T14:37:00.000-08:00

I'm trying out the new Kaspersky personal anti-virus software. I have allready installed it, and run a scan. It found nothing suspicious, and for that I thank AVG. Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal 5.0
Is trial-ware, which means at the end of 30 days I get to pay $39.95. I don't like to spend money when I don't have to. So I'll stick with a perfectly good product, AVG and then I'll send them a donation. I don't believe we should have to pay directly for online security. Internet Service Providers should build in security. But that is a needle in a haystack argument for someone else to debate.

I did surf Beta News today looking for some cool new Betas to try out. Found a couple I might try. You might like them...
One is a calendar that sits on your desktop and you add events to also it reminds you of the event. Not sure...according to the description it sounded easy to use. Rainlendar home page
Betanews review/download

Also found this free email server program...not sure but it sounds like I could run my own email server. Not sure if this is a good idea or not but I might give it a try
It's called hmailserver
Betanews review

well enjoy!
"D"

How do I speed up my computer? (part 2)

2006-01-21T21:11:00.000-08:00

Slow computers suck! (part 2 of 2)

Finding specific information about your computer can be difficult. Unless you have the proper tools for the job, then it can be a few clicks away. I recommend a freeware utility program called Everest Home by Lavalys.
This program when installed will tell you everything you (or tech support) would need to know about your computer.
Download at Majorgeeks
Download at Softpedia
Download at Old Version

1. This information will come in useful when you decide to upgrade your computer memory. Now you could just crack open the case and hope you get the right stuff or you can take it in and pay someone to upgrade it. But why when this upgrade is easier then brushing your teeth. You need to know what type of memory you have and how much you can install total. Then you can head to the computer store and pick up your new memory upgrade. Once you have it, follow the instructions on the box...unplug computer...open case....plug in new memory....close case...start-up new faster more powerful computer and grin!

2. Deep cleaning of files and registry.
This is where it might get a bit dangerous. I recommend a program called Easy Cleaner by Toni Arts. This program will allow you to eliminate tons of stuff you didn't realize you had. (ran it on Josh's computer and recovered 715mb of space)
The problem is that sometimes it eliminates some files that may be used rarely. Then you will get an error and then (in my experience) the file was recreated and the problem solved itself.

an excerpt from Toni Arts site "EasyCleaner is a small program which searches the Windows registry for entries that are pointing nowhere. EasyCleaner also lets you delete all kinds of unnecessary files such as temps and backups. You can search for duplicate files and you can view some interesting info about your disk space usage! You are also able to manage startup programs, invalid shortcuts and add/remove software list."

I like the results produced from this program and I have no problem recommending it to others.

Other than the few suggestions I have made you should defrag your hard drive regularly and occasionally run disk clean-up.
Have fun and stay safe.
"D"

How do I speed up my computer?

2006-01-16T18:57:00.000-08:00

Slow computers suck! (part 1 of 2)
Computers are like finger prints...no two are the same.

But computers do have things in common. Computers that are used to surf the internet get "dirty". They collect "internet dirt". Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to avoid this "dirt".
So we do the best we can until the dirt piles up to the point we can't stand it anymore. This is when we search "fix my slow computer" and a lot of "internet dirt" hides near the search for "fix my slow computer"

You need the tools to do the clean-up job yourself. These tools are free! You don't need to hire someone to service your computer, just the proper tools and some common sense and you will be able to speed up your own computer in no time.

Tools and how/why to use

1. Multiple anti-spyware programs. These try and stop most of the dirt and they also try to get rid of some existing dirt. I use these programs...
a. Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
b. Ad-Aware Personal
c. SpywareBlaster 3.5.1
d. Spybot-S&D
e. ewido anti-malware

2. Avoid using bloated antivirus programs that tend to slow down your computer stick with free ones with limited options (do you really need to dissect the virus? no just stop the damn thing)
a. AVG Anti-Virus Free
b. AntiVir

3. Start-up. (Windows)
controlling which programs start/run when your computer starts will vastly improve speed.
a. check your "program list" look for a folder called startup. Delete anything in there that you don't want to start automatically.
b. also...click start/run and type msconfig then click ok. Find the startup tab and click it. Here you will find most of the programs that start when your computer starts. (some of these are required for your computer to work) Here is a very good list that contains a huge amount of "program startup ID information" If you deselect any you will be prompted to restart.

Stay tuned for Part 2
Detailed cleaning info and memory upgrades information.

Is Juicyfruiter a spammer?

2006-01-16T16:50:00.000-08:00

I recently received a comment from "Juicyfruiter" on a blog that I operate .
Here is that comment
" At 9:33 AM, lucyclinton0625 said...

I read over your blog, and i found it inquisitive, you may find My Blog interesting. My blog is just about my day to day life, as a park ranger. So please Click Here To Read My Blog

http://www.juicyfruiter.blogspot.com "

If you were to visit this blog you would find it less than "inquisitive" I don't even think it's informative.

Really all it does is display some templates that I have modified for Blogger and some links to things I found useful for my blogs.

In fact judge for yourself if you find it "inquisitive" I'll retract my "spammer" comment, I may even apologize.

"D"

Control the sound volume with a wheel mouse

2006-01-14T07:47:00.000-08:00

Description...

Volumouse provides you a quick and easy way to control the sound volume on your system - simply by rolling the wheel of your wheel mouse.
It allows you to define a set of rules for determining when the wheel will be used for changing the sound volume. For example: You can configure Volumouse to use your mouse wheel for volume control when the Alt key is hold down, when the left mouse button is down, when the mouse cursor is over the taskbar, and so on...
When the conditions that you define are not satisfied, your mouse wheel will be used for the regular scrolling tasks, exactly as before.

This super small program rocks! Site/Download

Backing Up Your Browser's Favorites/Bookmarks

2006-01-14T07:44:00.000-08:00

January is a good time to clean-up your computer and back-up important files. One easy but important item to back-up periodically is your browser's "Favorites" (when using Internet Explorer) or "Bookmarks" (when using Firefox, Safari, or Netscape). Here's how to export and save these files:

Exporting Favorites From Your Internet Explorer 6.0 Browser When Using Windows XP Home Edition

1. With Internet Explorer open, click your cursor arrow on the "File" menu and drop down to "Import and Export." The Import/Export Wizard will start.
2. Click on the "Next" button.
3. Choose "Export Favorites" from the list of actions to perform and click "Next."
4. Select the "Favorites" folder for exporting and click "Next."
5. Choose a destination for your exported favorites by clicking on the "Browse" button. Give the exported favorites file a name and select a destination for it.
6. Click the "Save" button and then click on the "Next" button.
7. Now click on the "Finish" button.

Exporting Bookmarks From Your Firefox 1.0 Browser When Using Windows XP Home Edition Or Macintosh OS X

1. With Firefox open, click your cursor arrow on the Bookmarks menu and drop down to "Manage Bookmarks." The "Bookmarks Manager" window will appear.
2. Click your cursor arrow on the "File" menu and drop down to "Export." The "Export bookmark file:" dialog box will appear.
3. Give your file a name and select a destination for it.
4. Click the "Save" button. Close the "Bookmarks Manager" window.

Exporting Bookmarks From Your Safari 2.0 Browser When Using Mac OS X

1. With Safari open, click your cursor arrow on the "File" menu and drop down to "Export Bookmarks." The "Export Bookmarks" dialog box will appear.
2. Give your file a name and select a destination for it.
3. Click the "Save" button.

Exporting Favorites From Your Netscape 7.2 Browser When Using Windows XP Home Edition Or Macintosh OS X

1. With Netscape Navigator open, click your cursor arrow on the "Bookmarks" menu and drop down to "Manage Bookmarks." The "Bookmark Manager" window will appear.
2. Click on the "Tools" menu and drop down to "Export..." The "Export Bookmark File" dialog box will appear.
3. Give your file a name and select a destination for it.
4. Click the "Save" button and then close the "Bookmark Manager" window.

Simple maintenance

2005-03-05T22:21:00.000-08:00

Computers need maintenance just like cars. No you don't change the oil and spark plugs but you do need to do some cleaning once in awhile.
Do your research and post questions on forums before you undertake any major house cleaning.
Stay away from your Registry(comp brains) until you have a comfortable grasp on what is entailed.
Start out with Spyware removers like Spybot, Adaware or MS spyware. You should notice an improvement.
Next, in your browser, go to the tools menu, find the options then locate the area where you can delete temp internet files and cookies. Delete these things. Check the settings for temp internet files. By default it's set at something like 1056mb. This is way too much. Every time you go to a website your computer searches this file to see if it has already stored the basic template for the site. Most times this takes up more time than actualy loading the site . Set it to 5 or 10 mb. This will speed up your browsing a bit.
Defrag your hard drive. Found in the start-programs-accessories-system tools. this may take awhile so sit back and wait. If you have never done this and your computer is 6mos. or older, expect to wait for 45min or more.
It also wouldn't hurt to run disk cleanup. Most of what this does is delete temp internet files and so-0n.
Organize your files and eliminate duplicates and stuff you just don't need.
Uninstall programs you don't use anymore. Then delete the program download to free up more space.
Certain programs use alot of ram (memory). When you run low on memory your computer will slow down or even freeze up. If you notice certain problems when you use certain programs this may be an indicator. Either uninstall then reinstall(to fix minor errors) or find a suitable replacement.
I hope this has helped you in some way.

"D"

Firefox update alert

2005-03-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

For any of you out there that use Firefox browser...beware. The update from 1.0 to 1.0.1 may make all of your favorites disappear. By disappear I mean gone, never to return, c-ya, bye bye. You get the idea. This happened to my stepson Josh. He is not happy! He now refuses to use Firefox and I don't blame him. Firefox is quick to import your Internet Explorer favorites and settings, but does it import your Firefox bookmarks and passwords? I guess not in this case. It just deleted them in favor of installing a new profile. I have promoted Firefox for a year. Told everyone how good it was, how secure it was, how cool tabbed browsing was etc... But I didn't know they would have to be somewhat tech smart to do a simple upgrade. Josh is very smart. Who would expect to have to backup your settings if you were not told to on the main Firefox download screen. I now am afraid to update Firefox. So I'm updating it on another computer just to see what happens. "D"

Temporary Internet Files - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2005-01-21T20:42:00.000-08:00

by: Nick Smith

A little bit of time invested into learning about internet security can go a long way in preventing mishaps on your computer. Temporary internet files are not something we should be afraid of, but we should certainly be careful in how much we trust them and how we deal with them.

Temporary internet files are image, text, and formatting files that are stored on your hard drive by the websites that you visit. They are placed there by the websites without your having to do anything. The files are stored on your computer the first time you visit the site so that the next time you go to that webpage you only have to load new information or files that have changed since the last time you visited - files that have not changed are loaded from the temporary internet files folder at a much faster speed than over the internet.

This seems like an incredibly appealing option, especially to those of us still working at home on dial-up connections (my teenage brother-in-law insists I'm "old school" because I don't have DSL - I think he may be right). Storing the temporary internet files on the hard drive significantly cuts down the amount of time it takes to completely load and view a website.

There are a few question areas, however, that need to be considered in any discussion about temporary internet files. First, and arguably the most trivial of the concerns, is that you may miss out...

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Malicious Advertising

2005-01-18T13:16:00.000-08:00

by: Daniel Punch

Advertising is a necessary irritant in the world today. You can't drive down the street without coming across an ad, either a billboard suspended over a road or a large poster plastered down the side of a bus. If you walk into a shopping centre it doesn't matter where you look, you see an advertisement of some kind. Even the tables in the food court now have ads embedded in them, and on my last trip to Melbourne I noticed that they were starting to embed flat screen TVs into the tables to deliver the full commercial experience to your meal. If you jump on the Internet you have to contend with pop-ups and banner ads, with some advertising agents being ruthless enough to write malicious code that embeds the ad into your computer so that you still receive the pop-ups even when you're not at the original site.

In the past, pop-ups and banner ads have been easy enough to avoid with the right software installed (incidentally, am I the only one who finds pop-up ads that advertise pop-up blockers tremendously amusing?) but now the software developers have worked their way around that little problem. The solution was simple; sell advertising space in your software, not just on your web page.

As much as I like to complain about this new idea, it does come with a significant upside. These days, not all Shareware applications drop out after a limited period of use, nor do they constantly remind you to register. Having ads in the software...

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Securing Your Wireless Home Network

2005-01-13T19:25:00.000-08:00

Do you have a wireless network installed in your home? Chances are that you do. If so, did you know that hackers might be using your Internet connection without your knowledge or consent?

It's called "Drive-By Clicking" and it is becoming more and more popular all the time. Here is how it works:

A hacker drives through a residential neighborhood with a laptop computer equipped with a wireless network adapter. If a wireless router isn't configured for secure communications the hacker's laptop can detect the signal, stop his car, and access the Internet using the unsuspecting homeowner's Internet connection.

He can send spam emails (potentially getting the homeowner in trouble) and even access sensitive information on the host's computer. Scary stuff, huh?

If you have a wireless router you can protect yourself with these tips:

Place your wireless router in a location that is as far away from the street or the closest neighbor's house as possible.
Change your router's password from the factory default (which most "competent" hackers are familiar with) to a new one.
If you have file sharing enabled on your PC be surer to activate password protection.
Enable encryption (WEP) in your router's configuration settings.
Be alert for clues that someone else is using your Internet Connection or home network. These include excessive Internet traffic through your cable or DSL modem (the data lights will flash more than usual) and a sluggish PC with lots of unsual hard drive activity.

Taking the time to secure your wireless network from cyber-intruders could save you lots of headaches and losses (monetary and otherwise) in the future.

by: Rick Rouse

Firefox : It saves you Time and Money!

2005-01-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

How can a web browser save you time and money?

Security. For starters, a secure browser, like Firefox, keeps out the spyware/malware. This alone frees up untold hours each month that would be spent removing these invasive programs. They are also responsible for huge computer slow-downs. (Time = Money)

Spyware/malware infestation may get to a point where you need to get help from a professional or worse have to purchace a new computer. This is not something most people look forward to. (Professionals are not cheap!)

Firefox is easy. And it's actually fun to use. Multiple tabs, favorite/customizable search bar (without having to add a toolbar program) Theme's and tons of optional customizations through extensions.

Pop-up-blocker (built in) ...need I say more?

Try it, you may find you love it and wonder why you have waited till now to do it.
and if you do like it, you find it enjoyable, you find yourself talking to friends about it, send a donation to keep Firefox on the right track.

"D"

Why this is here

2005-01-06T14:20:00.000-08:00

I decided to set up this blog as a means to tell the world how I keep my home network operating smoothly and relatively free of malicious programs. As an added bonus, I would like to share some tips for everyday computing, that I have learned over the years. There may even be a joke posted here, once in awhile. This is somewhat of an experiment, that I hope will be a positive one.

"D"

First thing on my list

2005-01-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

Surfing the Internet with MSIE (Microsoft internet explorer) is a sure fire way to gather a lot of malware. Now I assume that you don't want malware to get in your computer, I know that I don't want it. But I.E. is the favorite target of malware programmers. This is probably due to the fact that so many people use I.E.
malware: any program or code that is put on your computer without your permission .(these programs usually slow down your computer, change your homepage, report information about you to the creator, shut off virus/firewall programs, refuse to be uninstalled etc.

I believe that if you wanted this stuff in your computer, then you should be able to decide for yourself, not have it forced on you. Internet Explorer lets this stuff in. This is where we discuss alternatives to I.E.

I am a big fan of Firefox browser! As you can tell by the big link button on this site. Firefox is very simple to learn. If you are at all familiar with I.E., then you will have no problem with Firefox. You may also discover some things about Firefox that you love.

Tabbed browsing(opening many different sites in little tabs across the top of Firefox) this allows you to jump between many pages with out having to reload them all the time(awesome if you are on dial-up internet).

Search bar built right in so you don't have to add a Google tool bar or Yahoo tool bar. You save viewing space by not having these things in your browser window.

Easily imports your I.E. favorites to the Firefox bookmarks. (no lost links no headaches).

It's a small download so you won't spend 15 hours trying to get the program (unless you still use a 28.8 modem in which case you need to move to the year 2005)

more to follow...