Amazing Computing Professionals

Here are some fun tips to make your computing experience easier and more fun. Most of them are from ZDtips.

PROBLEM: You have a question about Windows, but no one at Microsoft will give you an answer. Where do you turn next?

SOLUTION: Your best source of information about Windows (and any other Microsoft product) is the Microsoft Knowledge Base at http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?11281:451999 . The tech support folks on the phones at Microsoft refer to the Knowledge Base all the time, though their version contains information that isn't released to the public.

PROBLEM: You've heard a lot about MP3 and the new portable machines that play music downloaded from the Web. What's the best way to get started with MP3?

SOLUTION: If you have decent sound on your PC and simply want to get a feel for what's available online, download a copy of RealJukebox from the RealNetworks Web site (www.realnetworks.com). The basic version of this MP3 player is free, while the souped-up Plus version will set you back about $30. RealJukebox will also help provide the link between Web-based music and a portable player should you decide to buy one later.

PROBLEM: You need to reformat your hard drive, then reinstall a bunch of programs, including Netscape Communicator. What steps should you take to make sure all your bookmarks and mail files survive the experience?

SOLUTION: In a nutshell, you have to save the c:\Program Files\Netscape\User(s) folder, reformat the hard drive, then restore the \User folder by copying it into the \Netscape folder before running Navigator. Netscape has detailed instructions at http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?11960:451999 .

PROBLEM: You've been using Windows 98 for quite a while now. Is there anything you should do to remove the excess files that have accumulated?

SOLUTION: Unfortunately, it's very hard to delete most useless files. You can use Add/Remove Programs to clean up the most obvious ones (Start, Settings, Control Panel, double-click on Add/Remove Programs), but most of the orphaned files that have piled up will doubtless escape detection. One easy sprucing-up, though, comes from the Windows 98 Disk Cleanup routine. Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup, and follow the instructions.

PROBLEM: You have a CD-ROM that somehow ended up loose in a desk drawer where it became scratched and covered with gummy little bits. Now you need to use it again.

SOLUTION: Clean off the gummy stuff with De-Solv-It or a similar general-purpose solvent. For the scratches, try the Wipe Out CD Repair Kit ( http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?11963:451999 ). It contains a fluid that, when used according to the instructions, keeps scratches from confusing your CD-ROM player's laser. The manufacturer says it works for audio CDs, too, and offers a money-back guarantee if it fails to do so.

PROBLEM: Your daughter's school is very strict about student access to Web search engines. Since X-rated sites pop up for even the most innocuous keywords, it's hard to blame them. Are there search engines designed just for kids?

SOLUTION: There are quite a few kid-specific search engines, and the list seems to be growing every week. Try Yahooligans (www.yahooligans.com), LycosZone (www.lycoszone.com), Kids Click (sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!), the Awesome Library for Kids (www.awesomelibrary.org/student.html), or AOL NetFind for Kids (www.aol.com/netfind/kids).

PROBLEM: You want to be able to launch a Windows program with a hotkey. If the program is already running, you want the hotkey to switch to the program.

SOLUTION: First, create a shortcut to the program and put it on the Windows Desktop (the easiest way is to right-click on a blank spot on the Desktop and select New, Shortcut). When you have the shortcut pointing to the correct program, click inside the Shortcut Key field and hit the hotkey or key combination that you want (for example, the Alt key and a function key). Click on OK. The next time you press the hotkey or key combination, the designated program will spring to life.

PROBLEM: You're tired of scrolling every time you have to open a program from the Start menu.

SOLUTION: One time-saver is to create fly-out menus to group similar or related programs listed on the Start, Programs menu. First, right-click on the Start button and choose Explore. The active folder should be Start Menu. If you can't see the Programs folder listed and indented under the Start Menu folder, double- click on the Start Menu folder. Select the Programs folder, and the contents of that folder will appear on the right side of the Explorer window. Choose File, New to create a new folder under the Programs folder (each folder is a new fly-out menu). Type a name for the new folder, then drag related programs into this folder.

PROBLEM: Windows Explorer automatically assumes that you're moving a file or folder when you drag that item to another location on the same drive and that you're making a copy when you drag it to another drive. Is there a way using drag and drop to force a copy to the same drive and a move to another drive?

SOLUTION: Hold down the Ctrl key while you're dragging and dropping a file or folder if you want to force a copy, and hold down the Shift key if you want to force a move. A plus sign will appear under the pointer onscreen when you're copying. If the plus sign does not appear, you're performing a move.

For more tips, tricks, and techniques plus 1,001 free downloads surf to http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?11953:451999

Last Updated: Wednesday, September 20, 2000