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ABC’s
of Windows XP
Consider these “Tips and tasks” as training steps, to
test and enhance your
knowledge and skills of using Win XP. They cut across many
tasks of operating your computer.
A. Basic Computer Tips and Tasks
Miss Winnie is
anxiously waiting for you to ask her – “What’s her
favorite Windows shortcut feature?” If you ask - she
will excitedly say:
The ability to place a shortcut from the Desktop to any:
1) Item within your computer,
2) Internet Web site, or
3) E-mail address preceded by “mailto:” without the
quotes!
To do this - simply:
a. Right click an open spot on the Desktop.
b. Trace New menu item to and click
Shortcut.
c. Browse to, or type complete computer
address, or type URL address,
or type e-mail address, like
mailto:myfriend@loa.com
d. Click Next; type name of shortcut, and
click Finish.
e. Finally, click the new Desktop shortcut
icon and you are on the way to a
computer address, or to a Web site, or to
begin creating an e-mail!
1.
To create a folder in
Windows Explorer that displays as the first folder under C:
drive or under My Documents folder:
a. Hold down Windows key and tap “E” to open Windows
Explorer.
b. Click the Hard drive (Local Drive) C: to select it. (or
select My Documents.)
c. Click File menu; trace the New menu item and click
Folder.
d. Name the folder “_1a Personal Letters”, or a similar
name starting with _1a, to prioritize the folder
as the first one on the list, allowing quick and easy access
to it and all new subfolders created later under
this folder.
2. To setup and lock
your computer to always display the “Details” view when you
reopen Windows Explorer:
a.
Open Windows Explorer (using any method – like right
click the Start button and click Explore).
b.
Click View menu; click the Details; click Tools menu
and click Folder Options
c. Click View tab; click Apply to all folders.
d. Click Apply and OK.
3. To always show small
Icons in alphabetical order when I open a folder:
a. Open Explorer (or My Computer)
b. Click View menu; click List; then click Tools menu
and click Folder Options.
c. Click View tab; click Apply to all folders.
d. Click Apply and OK.
4. To customize and
improve the Folder view display in Windows Explorer and add
buttons on the Standard Toolbar to your liking:
a. Open Windows Explorer; click the View menu; click
Status bar, List and Arrange icons by Name.
b. Click View menu again; click Toolbars; click Customize.
c. From available Toolbar buttons box, click and add each
new button, like Undo, Delete, Cut, Copy, and Paste, etc. to
reside on Standard toolbar.
d. Click Close.
5. To be able to send
files directly to one of my personal folders via the “Send
To” menu in Windows XP:
a. Click Start button; click Run menu item; type SendTo
and click OK and your SendTo menu opens.
(C:\Documents and Settings\Your account name\SendTo)
b. If not in
Folder View click Folders button on tool bar; Click File
menu and trace mouse pointer over New menu item and click
Shortcut.
c. Click the
Browse button and find the folder that you want and click
it; then click OK.
d. Click Next and type name for the shortcut; Click
Finish.
e. Repeat a-d for each folder that you want to add.
6. You have been given a
photo on a floppy or thumb drive, which is a (.jpg) file
type. List the necessary steps to copy the photo into My
Pictures folder, and then open it up as a new Desktop
background scene.
a. Insert the floppy; open Windows Explorer; scroll to and
select A: drive.
b. Right click file in A: drive and click Copy menu item.
c. Scroll up left window pane and click My Documents to
expose My Pictures folder.
d. Right click My Pictures folder and click Paste; right
click Desktop; click Properties.
e. Click Desktop tab; click Browse and navigate to My
Pictures and select .jpg file.
f. Click Open; click Apply and click OK.
Note:
é
You can copy from a thumb or pen drive, or CD, using same
procedures.
7. Show hidden programs
or System Files in Windows Explorer:
a. Right click Start and click Explore to open Windows
Explorer program.
b. Click Tools menu; click Folder Options; Click the View
tab.
c. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files
and folders.
Important tip! While the View tab is displayed, be sure
that the “Display the full path in the address bar” is
checked; and “Display the full path in the title bar” is
checked if you want it their, too.
8. To save a file that
is open into a different folder and new file name:
a.
Click File menu; click Save As. (the Save As dialog
box opens).
b.
Click down arrow {located opposite ‘folder name’} to
select a different folder.
c.
In file name box, type in new file name and click
Save.
9. You want to create a
similar Word letter to another person but do not want to
retype the whole letter.
a. Open the file from Start menu My Documents, or My
Recent Documents or from Windows Explorer.
b. Click File menu; click “Save As”, which brings up the
Save As dialog box.
c. Give the new file a different descriptive name and
click “Save”.
d. Drag over to select unwanted text and tap the Delete
key.
e. Add new text and click File menu Save, or hold down
Ctrl key and tap “S” key.
Note: Since e-mail and Internet Web pages are text
based, you can copy any portion of text in an e-mail
message or Web site, and download it into one of your
word processor files. You can create a blank Word file
on the Desktop for this purpose. Right click an open
spot on Desktop, point to NEW menu item and click
Microsoft Word Document. Rename this file “New Word.doc”.)
10. To copy text from an
e-mail or Web page and paste it into a Word file:
a. Drag over any section of text to highlight it. If you
want sections of text not in sequence, hold down
Ctrl key as you drag to highlight each bit of text
b. Hold down the Ctrl key and press the “C” key to copy
text selected to the clipboard.
c. Open a new or old Word file; right click wherever you
want the text to go and click “Paste”.
11. List four Methods
of “Copying Data file” within Explorer (same drive):
a. Right Drag Method: Right drag data file
from Source folder and drop on
Destination folder; click Copy,
b. Left Drag Method: Hold down CTRL key and
drag data file from source
folder and drop on destination folder.
c. Copy-Paste Method: Select data file
located in source folder; click Copy
d. Using Keyboard
Method: Select file to copy; hold down Ctrl key
and tap “C” key
to copy; select destination folder; hold down Ctrl key and
tap “V” key to Paste.
12. Copy any file from
one of your folders to another folder:
a. Open Explorer; scroll left pane to and click on your
source folder to select it.
b. Select file to copy; click Edit Menu & click Copy. (OR
click Copy button on
Tool Bar)
c. Click destination folder; click Edit menu &
click Paste. (OR Ctrl key + V)
13. Determine the space
used by several files in a folder not in sequence:
a. Open Explorer; click on folder; hold down Ctrl key and
select each file.
b. Right click any one of selected files; and click
Properties to display space used. OR
c. View space occupied by files in Status Bar, if it is
displayed.
14. Select (highlight) a
group of files in sequence ([with mouse only).
a.
Open Explorer; open Folder to display files in
right pane.
b.
Click on right corner of first file; drag down to
form a bracket over files you want to select.
15. Open a CD to view
file contents, bypassing AUTORUN.
a.
Right click Start button and click Explore to open
Explorer.
b. Scroll down left pane to expose CD drive Icon.
c. Insert CD while holding down Shift key.
d. Click on CD drive Icon to examine its files in right
pane of Explorer.
16. To copy a photo or
graphic from a Web site:
a. Right click the image and select from a dozen choices in
the menu as to what and where you want the image to go:
17. To open
Microsoft’s “Windows Update” Address:
a. Click Start button, click Control Panel, click
“Windows Update”.
 Tip: Accessibility Options are a group of settings
that make Windows easier to use, especially for people
with handicaps such as sight or hearing impairments, but
they can be useful to everyone. Microsoft Magnifier
is one of these programs.
18. To open Magnifier
from the Accessibility Program:
a. Click Start button; click All Programs; trace mouse to
Accessories
b. On to Accessibility; and click Magnifier.
21. To place a shortcut
to the Compact Disc Drive (or any drive or folder) on the
“Send To” menu:
a.
(Open two Windows Explorer windows) Right click Start
Button; click Explore to open first Windows Explorer; repeat
to open second window.
b.
Right click Taskbar and click Tile Windows
Vertically.
c.
In one window - scroll to and display:
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Send To.
d.
In the other window – scroll to expose Compact Disc
Drive and right drag and drop it on the Send To folder in
the opposite Windows Explorer window.
e.
Click Create a Shortcut Here.
[OR
another way:]
22. To place an item on
the “Send To” menu such as the Compact Disc drive (or any
folder):
a. Right click Start Button; click Explore to open Windows
Explorer.
b. To display the Send To folder, scroll to –
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\ and click
SendTo folder.
c. Scroll the left window pane “scroll bar” to expose the
Compact Disc drive.
d. Right drag Compact Disc drive and drop it in an open
spot in the right window pane of the Send To folder.
e. Click Create a Shortcut Here.
23. To connect a laptop
to a desktop computer for transferring files:
a. Click Start Button; click All
Programs>Accessories>Communications.
b. Click New Connection Wizard; click Next; click “Setup an
Advanced Connection”. Follow Wizard.
Of course you can easily copy folders or files from the
source computer to the destination computer via CD or
DVD disc, Zip disk, thumb drive -- or even floppy disk
if you have a floppy drive and lots of floppies and lots
of free time. I prefer to use my 8GB thumb drive.
24. To move data and
settings from an old computer to a new one:
a. Click Start button > All Programs > Accessories >
System Tools.
b. Click Files and settings Transfer Wizard, and its
dialog box opens.
c. Click connecting your computer to learn how to do it.
d. Click Close (Red X) to close dialog box; click Next and
follow the wizard,
25. To set up your
computer to hibernate to save power, or more
importantly, to remember and store on the hard drive
whatever programs and files you are currently using at the
time of shutdown:
To setup hibernate –
a. Right click open spot on Desktop; click Properties;
click Screen Saver
b. Click Power; click Hibernate tab, click Apply and click
OK.
c. Click Advanced tab, and under “When I press power
options button on my computer”, click Hibernate; click Apply
and OK.
d. Leave one or more programs open, and turn off computer
Power switch.
Note 1: The short way too Power Options Properties -
Click Start>Run
and type powercfg.cpl; click OK.
Note 2) Longer way – Click Start button>Control Panel
(Category view)>
Performance and Maintenance>Power Options.
26.
If you want to shutdown
your computer using the power off switch rather than through
the Start menu.
a. Open Power Options as above.
b. Click Advanced tab.
c. Under “When I press the power button”, scroll to 91
and click Hibernate.
d. Click Apply and OK.
27. To hide the active
icons in Notification area (Tray Icon) of Taskbar:
a. Right click the Taskbar; click Properties menu item.
b. At bottom of Taskbar properties dialog box place
checkmark in “Hide inactive icons”.
28. To turn automatic
updates “on” or “off”:
a. Click Start button; click Control Panel (Classic View)
and clickutomatic Updates.
b. On the Automatic Updates; click the setting of your
choice.
29. To install the
Windows XP FAX program:
a. Click Start button, click Control Panel, and click Add
or Remove Program
b. Click Add/Remove Windows Components in left side menu;
c. Place checkmark in FAX program,
d. Click Next, and follow Wizard instructions to complete
FAX installation.
30. To listen to Radio
stations:
a. Click Start button, click All Programs; click Windows
Media Player.
b. Click Radio Tuner to listen to radio stations that
broadcast on the Internet.
c. Click the name of the radio station you want to play
and information about the station appears.
d. Click Play.
31. To setup and run
the “Desktop Cleanup Wizard” every 60 days to move any
unused item to a folder for future use:
a. Right click desktop; click Properties to open Display
Properties dialog box.
b. Click Desktop tab; click Customize Desktop; click OK.
c. Place checkmark in “Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every
60 days”.
d. Click OK, click Apply and click OK again.
32. Copy a .jpg
file located in My Pictures folder and paste it in a
letter.
a. Open My Pictures folder; right click the file; click
Copy from menu.
b. Open a new or existing Word file.
c. Right click where you want picture to insert, and click
Paste; size photo by clicking on photo to select it, and
drag corners; type letter.
d. Click File menu, click Save As and name and save
letter.
33. List 3 ways to
bring up the New command to create a New Folder
or New File.
a. Open Explorer and click on C: drive (or an existing
folder) to select it.
b. Click File Menu and trace New command line to
select new folder or new file. OR
c. Right click an open spot in a folder display in right
windowpane of Explorer and trace NEW" command line to New
Folder or New File. OR
d. Right click open spot on Desktop and trace NEW command
to New Folder or New File, and click.
34. Print a copy of a
“selected text” from an open word processor file:
a.
Click Copy on Toolbar button, which copies text to
the Clipboard.
b.
Open a new document to receive the text; place cursor
where you want the text to go
and click Paste button on Toolbar.
c.
Click File Menu; click Print.
35. To copy an open
dialog box into a Word file:
a. Hold down on the Alt key and press the Print screen
key. (Copies it to clipboard)
b. Open the Word file; right click where you want dialog
box to go; click Paste.
36. Determine the space
on C: drive occupied by the Windows program.
a.
Open Explorer; right click on Windows folder choose
Properties. OR
b.
Click on Windows folder to select it and note space
used on Status bar.
37. Return to the
beginning of a file using simple keystrokes.
a.
Hold down CTRL key and press ‘Home’ key
b. To go to the end of a file – hold down Ctrl key and
press End key.
38.
To find all files with “report” as part of their name:
a. Click Start button;
click Search; click “All files and folders”
b. Check that C: is listed in
“Look In” field
c. Type “report”; click
Search.
39.
Change the icon of a Desktop Shortcut that you created.
a. Right click your Desktop
shortcut; click Properties
b. Click Change Icon
button; drag mouse over your selection and click OK
c. Click Apply; the click
close.
40. Clear My Recent
Documents List on Start Menu (Last 15 recently used).
a. Right click Start button, click Properties, click
Customize, click Advanced tab and click Clear List (center
of dialog box).
To
delete one file name listed on My Recent Documents log,
right click file and click Delete. The file name
disappears off of the list but the file still exists.
41. Tile all open
windows on the Taskbar.
a.
Right click Taskbar; click Tile Windows Vertically.
42. Close an item in the
Taskbar.
a.
Right click on the item’s icon on the Taskbar
b.
Click Close.
43. To delete unwanted
leftover items on Start menu’s cascading
menus:
45. To add Clipboard
program if it is not installed on your computer:
a. First check to see in Clipboard is installed
1) Click Start, click Run, type “clipbrd” and
click OK.
2) If Clipboard does not display, proceed as
follows:
b. Click Start ?Control
Panel ? Add or
Remove Programs.
c. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
d. Double click Accessories and click the checkbox in
Clipboard. Follow wizard.
e. If no checkbox, you may be prompted for the Windows XP
Installation disc.
46. To setup Win XP to synchronize with accurate time –servers:
a. Double click the digital time display in right end of
Taskbar and select the Internet Time tab.
b. Make sure that there is a checkmark in “Automatically
Synchronize With an
Internet Time Server”.
47. To prevent drag
without holding down on the mouse button:
a. Click Start button; click Control Panel (Cat. View);
click “Printer and other Hardware”.
b. Click Mouse; uncheck “Turn on Click Lock”. Click Apply
and OK.
48. To broaden your
folder view in Win Explorer and eliminate the left side
“Task View” menu from view:
a. Click Tools menu; click Folder Options.
b. Click Use Windows Classic view; Click Apply and OK.
Note: The previous task will allow you to switch from
two pane windows display (folders on the left) or
single-pane Folder view when you click on the Folder
button on the Toolbar. You will have to select the “Show
common tasks in folders” rather than “Use Windows
Classic folders” to enable the Task view to select “View
folder as a slide show.”
49. To change Windows
Explorer folder options view from Windows 98 Classic to
display the Windows XP Task menu in left pane:
a. Open Windows Explorer; click Tools menu; click Folder
Options.
b. Under General tab click “Show common tasks in
folders”.
(Note this is where you set up “Single click to open an
item (point to select)”.
c. Click Apply and OK.
The
My Recent Documents menu item on the Start menu is a
handy list of links to the last 15 files that you have
opened, which are available to you for a quick return.
All of the files that you have opened in the past are
listed in Windows Explorer at the following address –
If
you can’t find one of your old files – scroll to and
open the My Recent Documents folder and look there for a
link to your old file. Find My Recent Documents folder
at:
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Account Name\My Recent
Documents.
If
you often need to hunt up old files, make a Desktop
shortcut to My Recent Documents by right dragging the
folder to the Desktop and click Create shortcut here.
50. To place a
frequently used folder to the Start menu:
a. Open Windows Explorer; browse to display the folder
icon.
b. Drag the folder’s icon to Start button without
releasing the mouse button.
c. Wait until the Start menu pops up; drag to where that
you want the folder.
d. A heavy black line shows where the link will display;
release mouse button.
51. To delete the files
listed in the My Recent Documents folder (only for house
keeping purposes as):
a. Right click the Start button; click Properties; click
Customize.
b. Click Advanced tab; under Recent Documents click Clear
List.
c. Click OK; click Apply and click OK again.
52. To prevent Win XP
from highlighting in yellow newly installed programs when
you click the Start button:
a. Right click the Start button; click Properties.
(Note: Be sure that Start menu is selected and not the
Classic Start menu.)
b. Click Customize; click Advanced tab; Uncheck “Highlight
newly installed
programs”.
c. Click OK, Apply and OK.
53. To setup the
desktop display hiding icons from view yet be able to
display desktop icons menu from the taskbar:
a. Hide Desktop icons by right clicking blank spot on
desktop and trace mouse pointer over “Arrange Icons by” and
uncheck “Show Desktop Icons”.
b. Right click Taskbar and trace mouse pointer over
Toolbars and click Desktop.
c. Point mouse pointer to right end of Desktop button on
Taskbar and click it to open desktop menu. Click icon you
want to open.
54. To use the Windows
XP built-in Zip (file compression) utility, rather than a
third party program like WinZip:
a. Open Windows Explorer and locate the file you want to
compress (Zip).
b. Right click the file and click menu item Send To.
c. Click menu item Compressed (zipped) Folder and follow
the Wizard.
55. To setup Media
Player to play music when you open Media Player rather than
open to Media Guide:
a. Click Start button; click All Programs> Accessories>
Entertainment and click Windows Media Player.
b. Maximize window; click Tools menu; click Options and
under Player tab
deselect “Start Player in Media Guide”.
c. Click Apply and OK.
56. To disable the
animated search character (dog) when making a search:
a. Click Start
button; click Search; scroll down to and click Change
preferences.
b. Under “How do you want to search”, click “Without an
animated screen character”.
c. To enable the “dog” again, repeat item a. above; under
“How do you want to use
search companion? Click “with an animated screen
character”.
57. To “setup” your
computer to use the Win XP CD Writing Wizard to drag and
drop files to the recordable drive:
a. Open My Computer or Windows Explorer and right click
the CD drive icon;
click Properties.
b. Click the Recording tab and check the box Enable CD
Recording On This
Drive.
c. Select the write speed Fastest; place a check in
Automatically eject the CD
after writing.
58. To “use” Win XP CD
Writing Wizard to copy files to the recordable CD drive:
a.
Open My Computer, or Win Explorer, and select folder
with files to copy.
b.
Drag files or folder and drop them on the CD
recordable drive icon, which creates temporary files and
places them in a staging area on the C drive.
c.
To see these files, click the yellow balloon, or
right click the CD drive icon and click Open.
d.
Click Write these files to CD and follow the CD
writing wizard.
Note: You can copy files to the CD drive icon by using
Drag and Drop, or Copy and Paste, or Send To menu.
59. To place your
favorite photo as Desktop Background:
a. Right click open spot on Desktop; click Properties.
b. Click Desktop tab; click Browse.
c. Select photo; click Open; click Apply; and click OK.
60. To move most of my
favorites web sites (or other files) from my old Windows 98
computer to my new Windows XP computer using USB ports and
an external mini storage Thumb Drive rather than a floppy:
a.
Insert Thumb Drive into USB port of Win 98 computer.
b.
Right click Start Button of old computer; click menu
item Explore to open Windows Explorer.
c.
Scroll to Favorites folder under Windows folder and
select it; hold down Ctrl key and click each favorite in
right pane to select it.
d.
Right click any one of selected favorites and click
menu item Copy.
e.
Scroll left pane to Thumb Drive icon; right click it
and click menu item Paste.
f.
Remove Thumb drive from old computer and insert it in
an open Win XP USB port.
g.
Right click Start Button of new computer; click menu
item Explore to open Windows Explorer.
h.
Scroll left pane to expose and click Thumb drive icon
to display its contents in right pane.
i.
Right click selected files and click Cut menu item.
j.
Locate Favorites folder, whose address is –
C:\Documents and Settings\Your name\Favorites.
k.
Right click Favorites folder and click Paste.
Note: If you have a cable connection between two Win XP
computers you can use it to copy files directly, rather
than via the Thumb drive or floppy disk or recordable CD
disc as the transfer medium. Check this method of file
transfer via Start menu>All Programs> Accessories>
System Tools> Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
61. To display “Folders” in the left window pane of Windows
Explorer rather than the “Task view” (left sidebar menu):
a.
Right click Start button; click menu item Open.
b.
Click Folder button on Standard tool bar. OR
c.
Click View menu; click Explorer bar; click Folders.
d.
Click [X] in upper right corner to close the Win
Explorer window.
Note: When My Pictures folder is selected, the View menu
has an extra item called Filmstrip, which offers extra
features and buttons useful when browsing photos - such
as the ability to rotate photo, view Previous image or
Next image. The next tip adds the Filmstrip menu item to
a folder not nested under My Pictures parent folder, but
folders containing photos.
62. To make a menu item
“Filmstrip” available on the View menu for a selected folder
containing photos but not nested under My Pictures folder:
a. Right click the Folder; click Properties; click
Customize tab.
b. Pull down the list of folder types; choose either
Pictures or Photo Album.
c. Click Apply and OK.
63.
To view contents of Clipboard:
a. Click Start button; Click Run menu item; type
Clipbrd and click OK.
64. To find out if a
Windows XP computer is properly activated:
a. Click Start button; click Run menu; type “oobe/msoobe
/a”,
without the quotes, but with space after second letter
“e”.
b. Click Ok. (An Activate Windows dialog box will open and
tell status.)
65. To
move data files and settings from one computer to another,
using a cable
connection:
a. Click Start button; All Programs, Accessories, System
Tools
b. Click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard; Follow
Wizard.
66. To update computer
time automatically:
a. Double click time displayed in Notification Area (Tray
Icon).
b. Click Internet Time; place checkmark in “Automatically
synchronize with an
Internet time server”; click OK.
67. To bring up a
Calendar display:
a. Double click time displayed in Notification
Area.
b. Change month or year as desirable. When
finished click Cancel to allow
computer to automatically return to current
time display.
68. To bring up a
complete list of all Win XP files that you opened recently
(to find and re-open an old lost file:)
a.
Open Windows Explorer; scroll to and click
Documents and Settings folder.
b.
Click your user name (Don) folder; click folder named
My Recent Documents.
c.
The address shown in the Address bar in Don’s
computer is:
C:\Documents and Settings\Don\My Recent Documents.
d. All of the files that you opened since the list was
previously cleared will be
displayed in right window pane.
69. To disable Active
Desktop:
a. Right click open spot on Desktop; click Properties;
click Desktop tab.
b. Click Customize Desktop button; click Web tab; uncheck
My Current Home
Page; click OK twice.
70. To show Start
Menu>All Programs in multiple columns rather than single
list requiring one to scroll to locate a program:
a.
Right click Taskbar; select Properties; click Start
Menu tab.
b.
Click Customize button; click Advanced.
c.
Scroll to find Scroll Programs; remove checkmark;
Click OK twice.
B. Self
training beyond Tutorial
µ
The learning process is “self-discovery”. Self discovery
requires effort – like doing the training tasks offered
throughout this book. If you had a photographic memory,
you read something once and remember it forever. Most of
us mortals are not so gifted and have to read and
re-read, do and redo, to remember.
Following are a few more exercises that should help you
round out your knowledge and skills of using your
computer productively. See other tips, tricks and tasks
located at the end of each chapter of “Windows Guide for
You”, by Don Crowley.
1. As a training
exercise - Open the “Windows Explorer” program each of the
following ways to demonstrate the flexibility of Windows
operating system in opening a program.
a. Click Start button,
4All Programs 4
Accessories and click menu item Windows Explorer. Close Win
Explorer by clicking [X] in upper right corner of Win
Explorer window.
b. Click Start button, trace mouse pointer to All Programs
4 Accessories to
menu item Windows Explorer. Right click Windows Explorer
menu item and click Pin to Start menu. Click this Start menu
item to open Win Explorer. (Close window.)
c. Click Start button, trace mouse pointer to All Programs
4 Accessories to
menu item Windows Explorer and left drag and drop it on open
spot on Desktop. Check desktop shortcut to
open Win Explorer.
d. Hold down Windows key and press the “E” key. (Close
window.)
e. Right Click Start button; click Explore to open Win
Explorer displaying contents of the Start menu. (Close
window.)
f. Right click My Computer Desktop icon and click
Explore. (Close window.)
g. Right click My Documents Desktop icon and click
Explore, which opens Win Explorer showing
contents of My Documents folder in right window pane. (Close
window.)
h. Left click Start button; click RUN menu choice; type
Explorer and click OK.
i. With Explorer open, browse to C:\windows\explorer.exe
and click that .exe file, which
opens another Win Explorer window.
j. With Explorer open, browse to C:\windows\explorer.exe;
right drag explorer.exe and drop it on an open spot on
Desktop; click menu item Create a shortcut here. Click this
Desktop shortcut to open another copy of Windows Explorer
program. (Close window.)
{If you cannot
see the Desktop around the edges of the window, click center
button in upper right corner to change window to the
“Restore”.}
k. Drag Desktop shortcut to Windows Explorer and drop it
on Start button. This adds Windows Explorer to upper
extension of Start menu. Click it to open
Explorer. (Close window.)
l. Click Start button; click menu item Search; click
Maximize button in upper right corner of Search window;
click Files & Folders, Look In Hard Drive (C:); type
“explorer.exe”
and click Search. Click explorer.exe at C:\Windows folder to
open Win Explorer.
m. In previous item, right click Explorer.exe in right pane
of the search results window.
Click menu item” Pin To Start Menu”. Click Start button,
click Explorer menu item
to open it. (Close window.)
n. Click Start button 4
All Programs 4Accessories,
click Command Prompt; type CD\Windows, and press the Enter
key. This opens the Windows folder and the prompt becomes
C:\Windows>. Now type explorer.exe and press the Enter key.
(Close window by clicking the (X) in upper right corner of
window.)
1)
Opening the computer from the Command Prompt is the old
fashion method of opening a program. It does not leave a
Start menu item or a Desktop shortcut as many other
methods do.
2)
The next method has several steps but leaves a Desktop
shortcut for future use.
O. Right click an
open spot on the desktop, point mouse to the menu choice
“New”, click Shortcut; type c:\windows\explorer.exe or click
Browse and scroll to this address. Click Next, type a name
for the shortcut such as Win Explorer, click Finish. Click
on this new desktop shortcut to open Windows Explorer.
2. Place a short cut to
a "personal data file" on the upper extension of the Start
Menu.
a. Right click Start button; click Explore to open Windows
Explorer
b. Click on folder that contains file, which displays file
in right window pane.
c. Left drag the data file & drop on Start Button.
3. Remove a file or
folder “shortcut” from upper extension of the Start Menu.
a. Click Start button; right click menu item and left
click “Remove from This List”.
4. Create a shortcut on
Desktop to Disc Drive (D:).
a. Open Windows Explorer by right clicking Start button;
click Explore.
b. Scroll vertically to expose the Disc drive (D:)
c. Right drag & drop Disc (D:) Icon to an open spot on
desktop;
d. Click Create Shortcut Here
5. On the Web you
click once to open a link to open a page.
To set up your entire computer for single click to open an
object
everywhere:
a. Click Start button; click Control Panel; click
Appearance and Themes.
b. Click Folder Options; under General tab, “Click items
as follows”, check
“Single click to open an item” and check “Underline
icon titles only when I
point at them”.
c. Click Apply and OK.
Note: Under View tab in example above– uncheck “Hide
extensions for known file types” so that file extensions
will always be displayed in Windows Explorer.
6. To place a shortcut
to Solitaire on Desktop:
a. Click Start button 4All
Programs 4Games
b. Right click Solitaire. Left click Create Shortcut,
c. Drag that shortcut to open spot on Desktop
and drop it.
7. Desktops can get
cluttered with many shortcuts and programs, which you seldom
use.
To create a master Desktop shortcut folder
to house these shortcuts:
a. Right click an open spot on the Desktop and trace the
New menu and click on Folder.
b. Name the Folder Desk Drawer (or anything, such as
Shortcut Folder)
c. Drag each shortcut you seldom use and drop on this
folder’s shortcut.
Tip: In item above, you can open a shortcut, by
clicking on the Desk Drawer folder to display all icons,
and then click on the one you want to open. You can also
drag it back to the Desktop if you no longer want it in
the Desk Drawer folder.
10. There are 2 quick
ways to display the Desktop when several
windows are open.
a.
Click Taskbar icon Show Desktop on Quick Launch
toolbar.
b.
Press and hold down the Windows key and tap D key,
which closes all windows and displays the Desktop. Repeat
Win key + D and the windows open again.
11. To turn off the
guest account in your Win XP computer:
a. Click Start>Control Panel>User Accounts,
b. Under “Pick an account to change” click Guest,
c. On the “What do you want to change about the guest
account page”
click Turn off the guest account.
12. To show Quick Launch
on the Taskbar as well as the Clock as a
Notification Area Icon:
a. Right click the Taskbar; click Properties,
b. On the Taskbar tab-click Show Quick Launch and Show
Clock,
c. Click Apply and OK.
Note: One useful feature of the Quick Launch toolbar is
that you can customize it by dragging and dropping any
item to it, and launch it from there. This includes
Desktop shortcuts to folders, files, and even programs
listed under Start
?All Programs menu.
13. Using Windows
Explorer - you can toggle between Folders and
Menu display by:
a. Right click the Start button; click Explore to open
Windows Explorer
b.
Point mouse to Folders button on Toolbar; and click it to
toggle between
Windows Explorer pane and the Menu display.
14. To show or not show
Desktop icons: 
a. Right click Desktop, point to “Arrange Icons By”, and
b. Check or uncheck “Show Desktop Icons”.
15. To take charge of
which icons that you want to show, or do not want to show on
your Taskbar or Start menu:
1) Notification Area
Icons.
a. Right click Start button, click Properties and select
the Taskbar tab,
b. Check or uncheck Hide inactive icons,
c. To specifically control whether an icon displays or not,
check Hide inactive icons and click Customize,
d. In Customize Notifications dialog box, select each icon
and choose Hide when inactive, or Always hide, or Always
show.
2) Quick Launch
toolbar on left side of Taskbar.
a. Right click open spot on Taskbar,
b. Trace mouse to Toolbars and on to check or uncheck
Quick Launch.
3) Start Menu – left
column.
a.
Right click Start button, click Properties and
select Start Menu tab,
b.
Click Customize, set number of programs on Start menu
to a figure of your
choosing, like 8.
c.
To pin a program to the upper extension of the
Start menu – click Start button, point to
All Programs, right click program to pin, and click Pin to
Start menu.
4) Start Menu –
To build contents of right column:
a.
Right click Start button, click Properties and
select Start Menu tab,
b.
Click Customize; click Advanced,
c.
In Start menu items box, select each item and
click
1)
Display as a link, or
2)
Display as a menu, or
3)
Don’t display this item;
d.
Click Apply and click OK twice.
5) Start Menu –
To add “MY Recently Opened Documents”
to right column:
a.
Right click Start button; click Properties,
b.
Click Customize button,
c. Select the Advanced tab, and under Recent Documents,
check the List MY Most Recently Opened Documents.
16. To install speaker
volume icon in Taskbar with other icons:
a.
Clicks Start button; click Control Panel; click
Sounds, Speech and Audio.
b.
Click Sounds and Audio Devices, and Properties dialog
box appears.
c.
Select volume tab and place checkmark in “Place
volume icon in the Taskbar”.
17. To use my photo to
display my user account:
a. Click Start button; click Control Panel; click User
Accounts.
b. Click Change an Account; click Account to change; click
Change my
picture.
c. Browse and select picture; click Change picture.
18.
To show Desktop icons on my new computer in addition to the
Recycle
Bin
icon:
a.
Right click Desktop; click Properties; click
Desktop tab.
b.
Click Customize Desktop; place checkmark in Desktop
icons wanted.
c.
Click OK, Click Apply and click OK again.
19. Open a new MS Word
“Word Processor” file directly from Desktop.
a.
Right click open area on Desktop; trace mouse to New;
b.
Click Microsoft Word Document.
c.
Name new blank file “A New Word Document”; press
Enter key.
Tip: The above item places the handy new blank Word file
on the Desktop. Click its icon to open new blank file.
When finished composing the file, click File Menu
Save As (or press F-12) and scroll down (browse) to
the folder where you want to locate the new file; name
it and click OK to save under new name & new folder. See
note in #20 below.
20. Create a Desktop
Folder and name it “To Do List”.
a. Right-click Desktop and trace mouse to New
b. Click Folder; Rename folder “To Do List” and press Enter
key.
Note: You can use this folder as a temporary holding
location for new files containing information you want
to save from e-mail or Web pages, to use or digest at a
later more convenient time. See examples below.
21. To copy a paragraph
from an open e-mail letter or Web page:
a. Drag mouse over paragraph to select it.
b. Right click selected paragraph and click “Copy” to copy
it to the Clipboard.
c. To show Desktop – hold down Windows key and tap “D”
key’.
d. Click on “A New Word Document” on Desktop that you
created in task #19.
e. Right click in text area and click “Paste”; click File
menu; click Save As; name new file and click Save.
22. To copy
a picture or graphic from an open Web page to save for
future use:
a. Right click the picture
(note the different choices) click “Save Picture As”.
b. Scroll to locate folder you
want picture stored in; name picture and click Save.
C. Exploring the Internet
1.
Below are six shortcuts or alternative ways to open a
website.
a.
Click Start button, click Run Command, type address
and click OK.
b.
Click Start button, Click Favorites, click Website
listed in log.
c.
Right Click Taskbar, click Toolbars, Click Address,
type in address & ENTER.
d.
Click Desktop shortcut to Internet Explorer; type
Address & ENTER.
e.
Click Desktop shortcut to your ISP, type in Internet
Address & ENTER.
f.
Within any late Microsoft Word program be sure the
Web toolbar is showing by clicking View, Toolbars, Web.
Then, from the Word page
type Internet Address
desired in the Web Address taskbar space, click hyperlink it
created.
g.
Right click Desktop, Click New, Click Shortcuts, Type
Web address, click Next, type in name address and click
Finish. Click Desktop icon to go to Web Site.
Tip:
You can select (highlight) and copy any
Internet Address from E-mail or any file, and
then paste it in Windows Explorer’s
Address Field or in any of the Address Fields
mentioned above. Press Enter key to go to the
address.
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2. To
customize the Taskbar so you can do everything from one
place, including opening programs, viewing documents, and
surfing the Web:
-
Right click
an open spot on Taskbar
-
Point to
Toolbars
-
Add an
Address bar, a Links bar, a New Toolbar, or the Quick
Launch bar.
3. You
can clear out the History folder in Internet Explorer or
limit the number of days a web site is listed there.
b.
Click the View Menu & then click Internet Options
c.
Under General tab click “Clear History” or limit
number of days
5. To
keep track of passwords required to visit various Internet
sites using Internet Explorer:
a.
Click on Tools Menu and then click Internet Options
b.
Click on the Content tab and then click on
AutoComplete button
c.
Place a checkmark in Prompt Me to Save Passwords
6. To
save (copy) a link or image to your hard drive from Internet
Explorer
a. Copy a page by
right-clicking a link (you don’t even have to open the page)
b. Then choose Save Target As; scroll to folder where
it is to reside: click Open.
c.
Click the Save button when
prompted.
d. To save an image, right-click the image and choose
Save Picture As.
Then click the Save button.
7. At the Desktop create a shortcut to a Web site.
a.
Right click an open spot on Desktop: trace mouse to
New menu item
b.
Click Shortcut and type in Web site address (like
www.whitehouse.gov)
c.
Click Next; type name of Web Site and click Finish
and a shortcut icon appears on the Desktop. Click shortcut
icon and computer will go directly to that Web site.
Tip: The Disk Cache handily keeps track of pages you
downloaded and stores them on your hard drive. When you
return to a page that you previously visited, Internet
Explorer will open a cached page to get you there
faster. It can get out of hand, though. If you need to
conserve disk space, dump the cache.
8. To delete
disk cache in Internet Explorer:
-
On General
tab click Delete Files button; then click OK twice.
9. To add
“live” URLs you visit everyday directly to the Desktop:
a. Open Start Menu, click
Favorites; drag URL directly to Desktop & drop, OR
b. From your browser drag a URL or Web page link and
drop it onto your Desktop.
OR
c. Create a Word file and
type in a list of favorite URLs and right drag that file
and drop it onto the Desktop, and click Create a
Shortcut here.
-
Right click
the link and choose Open in New Window, OR
-
Click Esc key
and re-enter the address
Tip: Click the Desktop shortcut to your favorite URL to
load the page you want, without having to open your ISP
and navigate through your browser favorites or
bookmarks.
11. To
change the volume of your modem:
a. Start menu/Control
Panel/Printers and Other Hardware
b. Phone and Modem Options/Modem Tab/Properties
c. Click Modem tab and raise or lower Speaker Volume.
12. To
change font size in Web sites:
a. In Netscape
Navigator – Click View menu and then click Increase font
b. In Internet Explorer – Click
View; click Tech Size then click various font size.
13. To send a long URL you found in an e-mail to a friend:
a. Drag over the URL to
select it and hold down the Ctrl key and press the “C” key
to copy it to the Clipboard.
b. Open your e-mail program
and address an e-mail to your friend.
c. Place the cursor in the
body of the text where you want the address to print –
hold down the Ctrl key and press the “V” key to
paste the URL at that spot
14. To save a Web page or hyperlink and place it in My
Documents folder:
(For this
example use “City Guide” under Microsoft’s Web site)
a.
Log on
to Internet by any method and type www.microsoft.com
in the Address command line, then
press Enter
b.
In menu on left side - click “City Guide” and click
hyperlink you want to open and download
c.
Click
Save As under File Menu; type name of page, and click Save
15. To save
a picture from a Web Site:
a.
Point
mouse over the picture and right click it. Menu appears.
b.
Click Save Picture As; scroll to and select folder
you desire
c.
Type
your choice of name for picture and click Save.
16. To save
a picture from a Web site as Desktop Wallpaper:
a.
Hover
your mouse over the picture and right click it (a menu
appears)
b.
Click Set as Wallpaper
c.
Minimize windows
to display Desktop and see wallpaper download
17. To
set up the Radio Toolbar in Internet Explorer to listen to a
radio station:
a. Open Windows Medial player
and click Radio Tuner.
b. Pick a station under
“Featured Stations”; or browse to find your favorite
station.
18. To copy
(import) Bookmarks from Netscape into Favorites folder in
Microsoft Internet Explorer:
a. Click on Internet
Explorer to open it
b. Click File menu; click
Import/Export and follow the wizard
19. To save time and
effort in typing a URL address with Internet Explorer (IE)
6.0:
a. Type the
domain name like Microsoft
b. Press hold down Ctrl key and press Enter and
http://www...com will be added.
(If .com is not the right extension, IE will try
to find the site by using various
extensions).
20. If When surfing the
Web using IE 6.0, you want
to click another link but stay on
the same page for that link –
a. Hold down
the Shift key while you click the link.
21. To standardize font
size when surfing the Web:
a. In IE select Tools then Internet Options
b. Choose the General tab; click the Accessibility
button and
check Ignore font size specified on Web pages.
c. Click OK twice.
22. To disable automatic
imaging resizing so that IE 6.0 does not resize the image to
fit the screen but present it as an accurate rendition of
the original size:
a. Open IE and choose Tools>Internet Options; select
the
Advanced tab,
b. Scroll down to the Multimedia options and
uncheck Enable Automatic image
resizing.
23. To change the
default startup page in Internet Explorer 6.0:
a. Navigate
to the page that you want to set as the startup page,
for example CNN’s main page.
b. Click Tools>Internet Options>General tab
c. At the top, where it says Home page, click Use
Current,
then click OK.
Windows HELP program contains a thorough reference to all
Internet subjects.
24. To obtain Help on an
Internet subject:
a. Click Start Button; click HELP and Support menu;
b. Type Internet, and
c. Click on Subject. Answer appears in right pane.
25. To save a Web page
directly into a specific destination computer folder while
browsing the Internet using Internet Explorer:
a. Click File menu in Internet Explorer; click Save
As.
b. Under “Save as type” dialog box, choose the
option “Web archives, single file”.
c. Select any destination folder (like My Webs
folder under My Documents folder)
and click Save.
Note 1) Task #25 will produce a file with the extension
.mht. Later, even if you are not connected to the
Internet, you can open your folder and click on this .mht
file to open that Web page stored as a file. You will
see a copy of your Web page, complete with graphics.
Note 2) In contrast, creating a favorite to a Web page
creates a shortcut or link to that Web page, and cannot
be viewed off line. To open that favorite at a future
date, click Start button, click Favorites menu, and
click that Web page listed as a menu item. The advantage
of creating a .mht file to a Web site is that it can be
located in any folder of your choice, and viewed
offline.
26. To disable the
“History” feature in Internet Explorer so it will not show
past Web sites visited by multiple computer users:
a. With IE open, click Tools menu >Internet Options.
b. Under History section, click “Clear History” to
get rid of current History log.
c. Then set the “Days to keep Pages” to zero; click Apply
and OK.
27. To back up Favorites
list from Internet Explorer to place into a different
computer or give to a friend:
a. Click File menu; click Import and Export menu
item and Import/Export wizard
opens; click Next.
b. Select Export Favorites; click Next.
c. Select the main “Favorites” folder for the source
folder and click Next.
d. Click on “Export to a file or address” if not
selected.
e. Click Next; click Finish.
(This will place the Favorites list with file name
bookmark.htm under My Documents folder, unless you have not
selected a different folder or a file name after step “d”.)
28. To setup Internet
Explorer to AutoComplete addresses when you start typing a
previously used Web site address:
a. Open Internet Explorer; click Tools menu; click
Internet Options.
b. Click Content tab; in lower right, click
AutoComplete.
c. Under “Use AutoComplete for”, it is suggested
that you place a checkmark in
all four categories.
d. Click OK.
By
placing a checkmark in all four AutoComplete categories,
you gain assistance in filling out forms when at Web
site, such as e-mail address, your name and address,
etc.
29. If you don’t want to
leave a Web page but want to explore a link:
a. Right click the link and select “Open in a New
Window”.
b. When finished reading that page, close the window
to return to the original page.
c. Alternatively, you can open a new window by
holding down on the Shift key and
clicking the link to open a new browser window.
30. To setup Internet
Explorer to automatically “check for newer versions of
stored pages” when I return to that page:
a. Open Internet Explorer; click Tools menu, click
Internet Options.
b. Under General tab, click the Delete files button
located in the “Temporary
Internet files” section.
c. Click Settings button; click radio button
“Automatically” under
“Check for versions of stored pages”.
d. Click OK twice.
31. To delete cookies
and history of previously visited Web pages:
a. Open
Internet Explorer; click Tools menu; click Internet Options.
b. Click General tab; under Temporary Internet
files, click Delete Cookies.
c. Under History, click Clear History.
d. Click Apply and OK.
32. To open up to my
preferred home page when I go online:
a. Open Internet Explorer; navigate to the home page
you want to use.
b. Click Tools menu; click Internet Options;
c. Under General tab, click Use Current.
d. Click Apply and OK.
33. To increase the
viewing area when Internet Explorer is open:
a. Click View menu; click Toolbars; click Customize.
b. In Text Options field, choose Selective Text on
right.
c. In View menu, click Toolbars, uncheck Lock the
Toolbars.
d. Drag the Address Bar to the right of the Help
menu.
e. In the View menu, uncheck the Status bar and
Google too, if installed.
Note: When Internet
Explorer is open, pressing the F11 key is the equivalent
of going to “maximize” the window. Press F11 again will
restore the viewing area to normal.
34. To transfer my
“Favorites” from my old Win 98 computer to my new Windows XP
computer:
a. Open Windows Explorer in old computer; click on
Windows folder.
b. Scroll down and click Favorites folder to select
it; hold down Ctrl key and
press the “A” key to select all favorite files.
c. Right click selected files and click Copy;
d. Save to a floppy disk, or jump drive
e. Insert floppy disk or jump drive in new computer
f. Open, select the saved favorites and copy
g. Open Windows Explorer in new computer and scroll
to C:\Documents and Settings >
name
> Favorites.
h. Right click Favorites folder and click Paste.
35. To learn how to
setup multiple computers to share an Internet connection:
a. Click
Start button; click Help & Support; Type in Search box
Internet Connection
Sharing, and press Enter key to start the
search.
b. Scroll down Suggested Topics and click “Internet
Connection Sharing overview”.
36. To prevent Internet
Explorer from hiding seldom used Favorites:
a. Open IE; click Tools menu; click Internet
Options; click Advanced tab.
b. Uncheck “Enable Personalized Favorites Menu;
Click Apply and OK.
37. To remove the Image
Toolbar from view in Internet Explorer when viewing images:
a. Open IE; click Tools menu; click Internet
Options; click Advanced tab.
b. Under Multimedia uncheck “Enable Image Toolbar”.
OR
c. Right click image and choose “Disable Image
Toolbar”. (You can always enable it
by reapplying a-b above.)
38. To enforce IE to
reload a Web page when you return to it:
a. Hold down the Ctrl key and press F5 (or Ctrl key
plus tap the refresh button.)
39. To setup Google
search engine to open search results in a new browser
window, to make it easy to go back to where you originally
started the search:
a. Go to www.google.com; click the Preferences link
- to the right of search field.
b. Scroll down to the bottom of the Preference page
and check “Open search results
in a new browser window.”
c. Click Save Preference and click OK.
40. To reset Internet
Explorer as your default browser:
a. Click Start button> Control Panel> Internet
Options> click Programs tab.
b. Place check in “Internet Explorer should check to
see if it is default browser.”
c. Click “Reset Web settings”; click OK twice.
D. E-Mail Tips and Tasks
Most
Home users do not need the built-in “Messenger Service”
feature that network systems administrators use to send
messages to work stations. This is not Windows Messenger,
but is an unknown tool for network applications. Disabling
this feature also closes another loop hole Popup Spammers
have discovered to enter your computer.
1. To disable this
“Messenger” feature:
a. Click Start; click Control Panel (Cat. View); click
Performance and Maintenance.
b. Click Administrative Tools; click Services in right
window pane.
c. Scroll and double click Messenger to select it; in
section Startup type, select Disabled.
d. Click Apply and OK. (Note: SP2 disables Messenger by
default.)
Note: You can also disable Messenger Service feature
by right clicking My Computer; click menu item Manage;
Maximize Computer Management window; under left side
pane click Services under Services and Applications;
scroll the list on the right side and double click
Messenger; in the section Startup type, select Disabled
and exit out via Apply and OK.
2. To setup a XP
computer with SP2 installed to accept and use Zone Alarm (or
other software firewall) rather than Windows Firewall:
a. Click Start Button
?Control Panel
? click
Security Center.
b. Click Windows Firewall at bottom of page; place check
in Off; Click OK.
3. To stop Windows
Messenger from opening and running in the background at
startup:
a. Click Start button; click Run menu item; type msconfig
and press Enter key.
b. Click Startup tab; uncheck msnmsgr; click Apply and OK.
4. To unblock an e-mail
sender from Outlook Express:
a. Open Outlook Express; click Tools; click Message Rules.
b. Click Blocked Senders tab; select person to delete and
click Remove.
5. To setup Outlook
Express to scan attachments and not allow any to be saved or
opened that could potentially be a virus:
a. Open Outlook Express; click Tools menu; click Options;
click Security tab.
b. Place checkmark in “Do not allow attachments to be
saved or opened that could
potentially be a virus.”
6. To restrict a Win XP
account (like teenager) from opening a computer during
specified hours:
a. Setup computer to perform text based functions by
clicking Start button, click Run
menu item; type CMD and click OK to bring up Command Prompt.
b. After command prompt type “net user teenagername
/time:M-F,5pm-7pm”
without quotes but use actual Win XP user name instead of
word “teenagername”.
c. Press Enter key and close Command Prompt window by
clicking Close [X].
(Note: You can set limits per day by using this
command:
Type “net user teenagername
/time:M,4pm-6pm;T-F,5pm-6pm”).
7. To setup Outlook
Express to store a copy of all of your outgoing mail:
a. Open Outlook Express; click Tools menu; click Options;
click Send tab.
b. Check “Save copies of Sent messages in the Sent items
folder”.
{Note other items checked while the Options dialog box
is open to Send tab}.
8. When sending e-mail
to multiple recipients - use “Bcc” field rather than
filling up the
“To” field with more than one address. This frees
up text box screen space for the recipients when viewing
their e-mail. To display “bcc” field, if not shown in
Outlook Express:
a. Open Outlook Express; click New Message”.
b. Click View menu; place checkmark in All Headers.
9. To import e-mail
addresses from Outlook Express into Outlook:
a.
Open Outlook; click File menu; click Import and
Export and Import and Export Wizard opens.
b.
Select Import Internet mail and addresses; click
Next; select Outlook Express as the Internet mail
application to import from.
c.
Select Import Address Book; click Next; select Do
not import duplicate items.
d.
Click Finish; click OK.
E. Keeping Your Computer Healthy
1. Run
“Check Disk” to identify and fix potential disk hardware
problems.
a. Right click Start
button, click Explore to open Windows Explorer
b. Right click the “C” drive. Click Properties.
c. Click Tools Bar tab, and under Error Checking, click
Check Now.
d. Click “Automatically fix system errors” and click “Scan
for and attempt recovery of bad sectors”. Click Start to run
Check Disk. (CHKDSK)
Note: Check Disk actually runs under the Command System
(like old DOS) and therefore unaffected by the Windows
XP operating system while Check Disk is running.
2. Run Disk
Defragmenter to optimize file storage & speedup performance.
a. First close all programs,
disconnect from Internet, turn off screen saver, antivirus
and firewall protection.
b. Click Start button; trace
mouse pointer to Programs; then Accessories.
c. Click System Tools; then
click Disk Defragmenter.
Note: The Defrag process may appear slow at around 10%
completion if there are lots of deleted files on hard
drives over one Gigabyte size. Give it the time it
takes.
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Because Defrag often takes considerable time to complete,
you may want to schedule it to run at night when you
computer is idle, like 1:00 AM on the first Monday of
the month. To schedule Defrag automatically, you need a
Windows password. If you do not have a password,
establish one: click Start button; click Control Panel;
click User Accounts and click your account; click Create
a Password; fill in the blanks and click Create a
Password. |
3. To
schedule Defrag to run at night:
a. Click Start button> Control
Panel> Accessories> System Tools> Scheduled Tasks.
(Scheduled Tasks can also be reached via Start menu> Control
Panel).
b. In Scheduled Tasks window,
click Add Scheduled Task and click Next.
c. Click Browse and navigate to
Windows folder and on to and click System32 folder.
d. Scroll to find file
Defrag.exe and click it; in Schedule Task Wizard setup time
to
schedule, and click Next.
e. Enter your username and
Windows password and click Next.
f. Check the box marked “Open
Advanced properties for the task when I click Finish”.
g. In the Run box you will find
the path to the defrag.exe file. At the end of
this string, add a space and the letter “c”, without the
quotes. Click Apply and OK.
4. To Remove
(uninstall) an application program:
a. Click Start button; click
Control Panel
b. Click on Add or Remove
Programs.
c. Click on application to be
uninstalled.
d. Follow instructions.
5a. Use Task
Manager to close application Program that hangs up.
a.
Hold down Ctrl + Alt keys & tap Delete key.
(Note 5 tabs displayed in
Task Manager.)
b.
Click Applications tab. Select faculty program.
c.
Click End Task; close dialog box by clicking Red X.
5b.
Use Task
Manager to find out what processes are running, who’s
running them, and memory consumed by each.
a.
Hold down Ctrl + Alt keys & tap Delete key.
b.
Click Processes tab.
c.
Also click Performance tab to checkout CPU usage.
6. Change
Mouse motions settings:
a. Click Start button; click
Control Panel
b. Click Printers and other
hardware; click Mouse.
c. Click Pointer Options tab;
under Motion, drag slider bar toward Slow or Fast.
d. Click Apply and OK. Close by
clicking Red X button twice to close dialog boxes.
7. Set
Power Management to “Never” auto-shutdown a Desktop
computer.
a.
Click Start Button; click Control Panel; click
Performance and Maintenance.
b.
Click Power Options; set power schemes to Home/Office
Desk; set four categories to Never.
c.
Click Apply and click OK; click Red X to close both
dialog boxes.
Laptops operating on internal battery must conserve
power and would use this power management feature.
a. Right click Start button;
click Explore, which opens Windows Explorer
displaying the Start menu and its subfolders.
b. Click Programs below Start
menu; click Startup menu to see if any programs re listed.
Delete unwanted programs from automatically running at
startup.
c.
Restart your computer and these
programs will not launch at startup.
Go to “C:\Documents and
Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup” to manually
delete items in the Startup menu.
9a. To view
what other programs load when Windows boots up:
a.
Click Start button; click Run and type msconfig;
click Startup tab.
b.
Uncheck programs that you do not want to run in the
background using up
memory unnecessarily.
c.
Restart your computer and these programs will not run
in the background.
9b. To bootup into the
Safe Mode to troubleshoot a Windows XP computer problem:
a. Click Start button; click Run menu choice; type
msconfig and click OK.
b. When System Configuration Utility dialog comes up,
click BOOT.INI tab.
c. Under “Boot Options” click /SAFEBOOT; click Apply and
click OK.
d. When prompted, click Restart
e. When you have finished using Safe Mode, repeat these
steps and uncheck /SAFEBOOT.
f. Close all programs and restart the computer when
prompted.
10. Using the Help program to find a fix to a MODEM
problem.
a. Click Start Button; click HELP and Support Menu;
b. Scroll down and click Fixing a Problem. Click Trouble
Shooting Problems.
c. Scroll down “Fixing a Problem” click Hardware and
System Device problems.
d. In right panel, click Modem Trouble Shooter. Find
answer to problem.
11. To increase or decrease
speaker volume control range:
a. Click Start button;
click Control Panel (Category view); click Sounds, Speech
and Audio Devices.
b. Click Sounds and Audio
devices control panel.
c. In volume tab, move
bar to increase or decrease speaker volume.
d. To place volume
control icon on Taskbar, place checkmark in box. Close
dialog box by clicking Red X in upper right corner.
12. To increase or decrease
Modem volume:
a. Click Start button;
click Control Panel; click Printer and other hardware.
b. Click Phone and Modem
options; click Modem tab; click Properties.
c. Click Modem tab; move
Speaker Volume slider bar as desired.
d. Click OK; click Red X
to close Printers and other hardware dialog box,
13. To set up your computer
to schedule Defrag during the night:
a. Click Start button and
click Control Panel; click Performance and Maintenance
category; click Schedule Tasks; click Add Scheduled Task.
b. Click
Next;
click Browse,
then navigate to
Windows folder,
click. Scroll to and
click
System32
folder; find and click
Defrag.exe
file.
c. Under Perform this
task, click weekly or monthly time; click Next to finish the
Wizard.
14. To set up Windows to
“Automate Updates” when needed:
a. Bring up System Properties dialog box the easy way by
holding down
Windows Key and tap the Pause/Break key.
b. Click Automatic Updates tab; under Settings, click one
of three options.
c. Click Apply and OK.
15. To standardize where
files go when downloading from a Web site:
a. After you’ve indicated you want to download an item, a
dialog box asks, “What do you want to do with this file?”
Select Save this program to disk.
b. A dialog box opens allowing you to specify a folder
where you want the file to reside.
c. For standardization, select the folder C:\Down Load (or
Download), or create a folder of your choice in which to
save downloaded files.
Note: Rename download file when “Saving to disk” to a
more meaningful name, like the name of the program and
its version. “Setup.exe” or “Install.exe” doesn’t convey
the name of the download file.
16. To bring up the
DirectX Diagnostic Tool to find system information and to
learn about or test hardware, like sound card, monitor
(Display):
a. Click Start and click RUN menu item
b. Type “dxdiag” (without quotes) and click OK
c. Check contents of each tab, and particularly the More
Help tab.
17. To restore computer
Registry to a previous date to clear up a
problem:
a. Activate XP’s System Restore program by clicking Start
Menu.
b. Click All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System
Restore.
c. Select “Restore my computer to a previous time” and
follow wizard.
Note 1) You can pin System Restore to the Start menu by
right clicking “System Restore” menu item in step “b”
above and click “Pin to Start Menu”.
Note 2) A new restore point date is established after
every 10 hours of computer operation, and each is stored
on the hard drive taking up space. The Disk Cleanup tool
dumps all but the last restore point gaining back hard
drive space.
Note 3) To limit the amount of disk space allotted to
previous restore points, open System Restore as in “b”
above, under Disk space usage click System Restore
Settings and move sliding bar to – say 3%.
18. To clear out
temporary files, Recycle Bin, all but most recent registry
restore points, etc:
a. Click Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk
Cleanup OR
b. The short way - Click Start>Run and type cleanmgr and
click OK
c. After Disk Cleanup checks for items eligible to delete,
place checkmark on each type of item to delete and
click OK.
19. To bring up the Task
Manager to close out a program that has
“hung-up”:
a. Hold down Ctrl and Alt keys and tap the Del key,
b. Click Task Manager
c. Click on faulty Program to highlight it and
d Click “End Task”.
21. Google Search
Engine provides answers to most computer or hardware
problems. For example, type in keyword or specific nature or
name of a computer or hardware problem, and ask Google
to find the answer.
a. Open your Internet Service Provider,
b. Type www.google.com in the address line and click GO or
OK.
c. In Goggle’s Address (command bar) - type keyword or
phrase describing problem
(like “name of error message”, or “name of device driver” or
information on
how to install “Windows XP Hotfix – KB823980” – quotes not
necessary).
d. Click Google Search to bring up links from which to
choose.
F.
Word Processing and related tasks
1. To create a Word file
that will wrap to window width:
a.
Open a new Word file; click Tools menu; click
Options
b. Under View tab, find Outline and Normal Options and check
Wrap to Window.
2. To create a Word file
that will not only wrap to window as in # 1 task but will
display very large letters for a sight-impaired person:
a.
Open a new Word file; click Tools menu; click
Options
b.
Under View tab, find Outline and Normal Options and
check Wrap to Window
c.
Click View menu; click Normal: click View menu
again and click Zoom
d.
Scroll zoom to any value up to 500% (You could use
Standard Toolbar zoom).
e.
Create file and it will display very large
letters, and Wrap to Window.
Note: This file will print at whatever font size is set, or
the default value.
3. To show the vertical
ruler:
a.
Open a new Word file; click Tools menu; click
Options.
b. In View tab under Print and Web Layout, check Vertical
Ruler
c.
To display both Vertical and Horizontal rulers,
click View menu, click Ruler, and click View menu again,
then click Print Layout.
4. To get an audio
notification when accidentally hitting the Caps Lock key:
a.
Click Start button; click Control Panel; click
Accessibility Options.
b.
On Keyboard tab, and under Toggle Keys, place check
in Use Toggle keys.
c.
Click Apply and OK.
5. To remove the white
space at top and bottom of a Word page (program version 2002
and 2003) when the View menu “Print Layout” view is
selected:
a.
With a Word file open, Click Tools menu;
click Options.
b.
Select View tab; under Print and Web layout options,
place checkmark in Hide white spaces. Click OK.
c.
Move the insertion point to the top or bottom of a
page and click Hide the White Space.
6. To change case from
all caps to lower case:
a. Drag over caps to select (highlight) it.
b. Click Format menu; click Change Case and click lower
case.
7. To copy text or a
URL from a Web page and copy it into a Word file without the
other junk from the Web page:
a. Select text or URL by dragging over it; hold down Ctrl
key and tap “C” key.
b. Open Word file; place cursor where you want text to go.
c. Click Edit menu; click Paste Special; select
“Unformatted text”; click OK.
8. To hide Find dialog box, which blocks text from view when using the
normal “Find” function in a Word document:
a. Hold down Ctrl key and tap “F” key; type word to find;
click Find Next.
b. Press Esc key; press Ctrl plus Page Down key to move
down to the next word.
c. You can also find the next word by clicking the double
triangles on lower edge of the Vertical Scroll bar.
9. To see all menu options when using Word menu bar:
a. Open Word; click Tools menu; click Customize.
b. Under Options tab, place check in “Always show full
menu”.
c. Note other selection “Place Standard and Formatting
toolbars on two rows”.
10. To display more of your Word document hiding all menus and toolbars:
a. Click View menu; click Full Screen; move to the top of
next page by holding
down on Ctrl key and tapping Page Down key.
b. Tap Esc key or Full Screen bar to return, displaying
menu and toolbars.
11. To set up a new MS
Word menu item called ”Work” to allow quick access to
frequently used files:
a. With any Word file open – click View menu, click
Toolbars.
b. Click Customize; then click Command tab.
c. Scroll down Categories side on left and click Built-in
Menus.
d. Scroll Commands side to Work and drag it to the right
end of the Menu bar.
e. When you have a Word file open and want to add it to
the Work menu - click on Work menu item and
click “Add to Work Menu”.
f. To remove a filename, press Ctrl-Alt-Minus and click
item you want
to remove.
12. To setup values for “AutoCorrect” and “AutoFormat as you type”:
a. Click Tools menu; click AutoCorrect Options; place
checkmark as desired.
b. Click AutoFormat as you type tab; make selections as
desired.
13. To increase number of “recently opened file lists” in
Word to the 9 file maximum
(This change effects Excel and PowerPoint, too):
a. Open new document file in Word; click Tools menu; click
Options.
b. Click General tab; under “Recently used files list”,
scroll to 9.
c. Click OK. (Now, the list of recently opened file list
available under the File menu will increase to 9 as new
files are opened. Click on any one on the list to open it.)
| |
As shown in tip above, Word provides many “useful
options” under the Tools menu, but some very
important ones are also found under the View menu,
as illustrated in the two dialog boxes above.
|
 |
14. To prevent Word from
creating a hyperlink when you type a URL
or
e-mail address:
a. Open Word; click Format menu tab.
b. Click AutoFormat tab; choose Options button.
c. Under Replace uncheck “Internet and Network paths with
hyperlinks”.
d. Check OK; then click Cancel.
E. Review of one-time display settings
1. To change
Start Menu from the Win XP two column display to the single
column menu style of Win 98:
a. Right Click
Start Button,
b. Click
Properties; click Classic Start
Menu,
c. Click
Customize to note Dialog box
options available to change.
d. Click
Apply and OK
2. To “Show
Icons” on Desktop:
a.
Right click Desktop.
b.
Trace mouse to
Arrange Icons By.
c.
Click
Show Desktop Icons.
3. To change
Control Panel display from “Category” to Win 98 classic
style:
a.
Click Start Menu,
b.
Click
Control Panel
c.
In
Control panel box on left of
Category Display - click “Switch to Classic View”.
4. Change
‘Desktop Icon’ size to 32; and font to Ariel, size = 10.
a.
Right click in open area on Desktop & choose
Properties
b.
Click Appearance; click Item Icon; Font 'Ariel', size
10 {Try MS San Serif}
c.
Icon size 32; and click Apply & OK
Tip: Changing ‘Icon’ font also changes Explorer font as
well!
5. To show My Documents
and My Computer as Desktop icons:
a. Right click open spot on Desktop; click
Properties.
b. Click Desktop Tab; click Customize Desktop.
c. Click General Tab; place checkmark in My
Documents and
My Computer. Click OK twice.
6. To setup a Screen
Saver to display photos in “My Pictures” Folder:
a. Right click open spot on Desktop; Click
Properties.
b. Click Screen Saver Tab;
c. Select Screen Saver “My Pictures Slide Show”.
d. Set time and other settings; click Apply and
OK’.
7. Set
Scroll bar size to 20.
a. Right click Desktop. Click
'Properties; click Appearance tab, click Advanced.
b. In lower Item box click
Scroll Bar; set “up or down” tab to size 20
c. Click Apply & OK
8. Change
the Desktop background.
a.
Right
click on Desktop; click on Properties
b.
Click Desktop tab; choose the background “Wallpaper”
you prefer.
c.
Click Apply & OK
9. Set Icon spacing to allow single line titles for Desktop
Icon titles.
-
Right click
Desktop, and click Properties
-
Click
Appearance Tab
-
Under ‘Type’
click “Icon Spacing (Horizontal)
-
Change
setting to 100 & click Apply & click OK {Vertical 43}
10.
Select your own Picture to use as Windows Wallpaper on
desktop.
a. Right click an open
spot on your desktop and click Properties.
b. Click the Desktop tab;
click Browse and scroll to and select your picture.
c. Click Apply and OK.
|
11. List two ways to Rename a Desktop Icon.
a.
Select Icon; press F2 & Rename; type new
name & OK.
b.
Right click Icon; click Rename; type new
name & OK. |
 |
12. Increase
Desktop real estate to higher resolution (Pixels settings).
a. Right click Desktop:
click Properties; click Settings tab
b. Slide lever to increase pixel
settings to higher resolution and
click OK.
20.
To
summarize -
you can change font size and type display throughout
computer by changing 1) Active Title bar, 2) Icon font
(changes Desktop as well as Win Explorer, 3) Inactive Title
Bar, 4) Menu, 5) Message box, 6) Palette Title, 7) Selected
Items and 8) Tool Tip. [Suggest Tahoma font type and at
least font size 12 and always click bold for each item]:
a.
Right click open spot on Desktop, click Properties,
b.
Click Appearance tab, click Advanced,
c.
Click Item’s down elevator
ê
to open Item menu, which displays the above 8 items that you
can personalize.
d.
Click each item, click font type, size, and click
Bold. Click OK, click Apply and click OK again.
21. Desktop Icons can
be hidden or displayed. To Display:
a. Right click Desktop; Point mouse to
“Arrange Icons by”
b. Click on “Show Desktop Icons”
22. Show a few Desktop
background scenes – “Autumn” –“Azul”- “Bliss”- “Paradise”.
a. Right click open spot on Desktop
b. Click Properties; click Desktop & make
selections
c. Click Apply and OK.
23. Run Desktop Cleanup
Wizard to have a clutter-free desktop.
(Identifies Icons unused for 60 days and moves them to a
Desktop folder called
Unused Desktop Shortcuts).
a) Right click
Desktop and select “Arrange Icons By”
b) Click “Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard”.
Note: If you want to disable Desktop Cleanup, right
click an open spot on Desktop click Properties > Desktop
tab > Customize Desktop > General tab, and uncheck the
box that says "Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60
days." Click OK + OK again.
24. You can control
display of icons on the Notification Area of the Taskbar
(Tray Icons). To set display or not:
a. Right click open spot on Taskbar; click Properties;
at bottom of dialog box place a check in “Hide Icons when
not in use”.
b. Click Customize; click on each
item under Current and Past and make selection “Hide when ac
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