tech sectiontech sectionYou can password-protect your computer to prevent other people from using your system or accessing your work. These instructions are for Windows 98. Other operating systems may differ.
When you add a printer, you tell your operating system that you have a certain kind of printer attached to your computer or available over a network. Even if you've hooked up the printer correctly, you still need to add it in the operating system to use it. These instructions are for Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.
Making a file read-only means that users can open and read the file, but cannot modify or change it. These instructions are for Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.
You can change the default printer to any other printer that you have connected to your computer. This will simplify your printing tasks, since you can select the most frequently used printer to be the default. These instructions are for Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.
Certain strategies will allow you to open a file without having the software that created it. These instructions are for Windows 98.
You can copy a file from your hard drive, from a CD or from any other storage media that you are using and put it on a floppy disk. This allows you to transport files from one computer to another. These instructions are for Windows 98 and the Mac.
By maximizing, you make a window fit the full size of your monitor, with the exception of the taskbar. This gives you a larger area to read or to work on your file. These instructions are for Windows 98.
Use your computer's Find function when you have forgotten where you stored something, or if you have forgotten the name of the file you want. These instructions are for Windows 98.
You can copy a file from a floppy disk or CD and put it on your hard disk, on another floppy disk or on any other storage media you are using. This allows you to transport files from one computer to another. These instructions are for Windows 98 and the Mac.
You can customize the way you view files and folders on your computer. For example, you might want to hide your system files so they cannot be accidentally altered or deleted. These instructions are for Windows 98.
PostScript fonts include descriptions that help the fonts print well at any size and are considering high-quality fonts. To print PostScript fonts, you need a PostScript-capable printer. You must have Adobe Type Manager (ATM) to install PostScript fonts in Windows.
TrueType fonts are widely available and often free. Find some styles you like and download them to your PC.
"Special characters" include the many accents that occur in languages other than English, as well as copyright signs, trademark signs and so on. You must have the Character Map accessory installed on your computer.
For simple editing tasks, you can use the Sound Recorder that comes with Windows. For more complex tasks, you might want to purchase a more sophisticated sound-editing software application. You will also need a sound card and computer speakers.
You can use any Web image, or the whole page, as your computer's background picture. You see it, you like it, it's your wallpaper.
You can take a "snapshot" of a Windows computer screen and then turn it into a graphic using a graphics software application. This is useful for reproducing a Web page in print or for documenting an error message for technical support.
The Windows Registry can be exported to a text file, making it easy to edit or transport from one computer to another. This procedure describes the export function in Regedit, the Windows Registry editor found in Windows 95 and Windows 98.
You may want to change the time zone on your computer if you move to a new location or if your new computer is not displaying the correct time zone. These instructions are for Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.
You can configure your computer to launch a program automatically each time it starts up. This is particularly helpful for programs that you want to run in the background, such as your virus scanner.
Windows Registry settings can be imported from a previously exported file. This procedure describes the import function in regedit, the Windows Registry Editor, in Windows 95 and Windows 98.
In Windows 95 and 98, you can set up your computer for multiple users, which means that each person will have to enter a name and password to get access to the computer. Use this feature for security or to accommodate individual operating system and application preferences for family members or co-workers. (For example, you and your spouse could each set different monitor resolutions and background patterns.)
You can use the Windows Sound Recorder to record your own warning beeps or other sounds. You'll need a sound card that supports sound input, a microphone and speakers.
Your Start menu is probably cluttered with shortcuts to programs you never use or may have even removed from your computer. Simplify your life and remove them.
Use Tweak UI, part of the Windows 95 PowerToys package and included with Windows 98, to easily modify desktop settings and icons and to accelerate Windows by disabling components.
A startup floppy disk provides an emergency method for starting the computer when the hard drive is not functioning properly. Three methods for creating a startup disk are described below. The Windows procedures require Windows 95 or 98; the DOS procedure requires DOS 3 or higher (ideal for older systems).
You can keep as many programs open as you have the RAM for, and you can switch between them at will. Then you don't have to wait for the programs to load before using them. These instructions are for Windows 98.
You might want to change your computer's date if it is incorrect or if you want to stamp a different date on your documents. These instructions are for Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.
Changing the icon size is one way of customizing your desktop. Larger icons might be especially useful for children using the computer, because there's more of them to click. Windows has a predefined large icon size, or you can specify an exact one. These instructions are for Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.
Many computer commands can be accomplished by using keyboard commands instead of mouse commands. Using the keyboard is a much faster method once you memorize the commands. These instructions should work for most operating systems and applications.
With StickyKeys, when you press any modifier key (Control, Alt) it remains active until a nonmodifier key is pressed. This is useful for people who have difficulty pressing two or more keys at once.
Delete unneeded files from your hard drive or from other storage media to reduce clutter and free up space on your drives. These instructions should work for most operating systems.
By putting your desktop computer to sleep, you save power when your computer is idle. Standby and hibernation are two different kinds of sleep. These instructions are for Windows 98.
You may want to change your computer's time if you move to a new time zone, or if you've just replaced the computer's battery. (Windows automatically adjusts for daylight-saving time, so you don't need to worry about that.) These instructions are for Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.
You can move around in a document by using various keyboard commands. If you are working on a long document, keyboard commands can be much faster than scrolling. These instructions are for Windows computers only.
By minimizing, you make a window shrink to an icon in the taskbar. This allows you to tuck away a file or program without closing the application. When you are ready to work on that file, you can access it quickly and easily. These instructions are for Windows 98.
If you don't want to see just how long you've been playing "Quake," you can hide the clock on your computer's taskbar. These instructions are for Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.
You can cancel or delete a print job if you decide that you don't want to print the document after all. You'll save paper and reduce the wear and tear on your printer if you cancel unwanted jobs, especially if the document is several pages long. These instructions are for Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.
When you install a program on a PC, it invariably includes ancillary files scattered through your Windows folder. To remove a program completely, use the Add/Remove Programs utility.
You can change the paper size for a print job. This will allow you to print on paper of different sizes, including envelopes and index cards. These instructions should work for most Windows applications.
You can change a print job's page orientation from landscape (the paper is wider than it is tall) to portrait (the paper is taller than it is wide - this is the default orientation). These instructions are for Microsoft Windows 98. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary.
The right mouse button provides shortcuts to many menu items in Windows; some features are only accessible this way. If you're looking to reduce your mouse activity - essential for sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome or other disabilities - you can use certain keys on your keyboard as stand-ins for the mouse's right-click button.
If you want to uninstall a Windows program from your computer, just deleting the application or its folder will result in lots of extra files and potential headaches. Use the Install/Uninstall control panel instead.
It is easy to quickly format a drive or some sort of removable media, such as a floppy disk or USB flash drive, in Windows. It only takes a few simple steps.
MSCONFIG can be used to help your computer boot faster and crash less. Also to monitor start up programs.
When you first install windows and are trying to perform a windows update, a lot of times it will fail. This happens a lot with windows 2003 server.
If your frontpage installation is broken and you can no longer get to the FrontPage administration web site, or access any of the "All Tasks -> Configure Server Extensions" page from the IIS MMC, then here is how to fix the problem.
The standard fonts that come with the Windows operating system are not enough for serious work that requires variety and elaborate design. Purchase and install fonts in Windows to improve the quality of your documents, Web pages or other printed material.
Despite a disagreement on the way to handle code rights, Linux and Windows have a lot of options when working together. You can use the "rdesktop" program in Linux to connect to any Window PC with the Remote Desktop Protocol enabled. These steps will help you to connect to a Windows server via terminal access.
Wget is a free program used for downloading content from the Internet. In fact, its name is derived from the phrase "World Wide Web" with the word "get" attached to the end. It was originally designed for UNIX and UNIX-based platforms. However, since its inception in the mid-1990s, it has been adapted to other operating systems, like Windows. Use these instructions to complete a Wget compilation for Windows.
If you want to test a new operating system (OS) without committing to change instantly, dual booting is for you. By making a dual boot with Windows Vista over XP, you can choose either OS every time you start your computer. Just follow these simple steps.
With a large hard drive that can store pictures, music, movies, videos and even television programs, the Toshiba Gigabeat is a powerful digital video and audio player. You can easily sync your music collection to the Toshiba Gigabeat using Windows Media Player--just follow the steps below.
UNIX is a powerful operating system, but not quite as easy to use as Linux or Windows. If you need to set the time in UNIX, follow these steps to make sure you do it properly without disrupting any of UNIX's system settings or destabilizing the UNIX system.
The operating system on your computer uses the processing power of the CPU to execute applications. The CPU usage increases when you have multiple applications running simultaneously. You can monitor the level of activity using the Windows 7 Task Manager. The Task Manager also allows you to monitor the activity of each core or thread on a multicore CPU.
When an application is hanging or an unwanted process is running on your PC, it works best to kill the process directly from the command line. The steps to kill a process from the command line are relatively simple. The important thing is to ensure you're killing the right process.
CHKDSK, short for "Check disk", is a Microsoft Windows command that checks volume problems of your hard disk(s). If you are using Windows 2000 or Window XP as your operating system, CHKDSK can validate bad sectors of your disk surface. This guide will show you the steps to run CHKDSK on your computer. There are two ways you can run CHKDSK. The first one is through the Windows Command Prompt and the second one is through My Computer.
Content Advisor is an attribute in Internet Explorer that permits administrators to control which Web sites the users can access. The administrators can set a password to prevent other users from altering the Content Advisor properties. If the administrator forgets the password, the Content Advisor properties cannot be changed. The easiest way to fix this problem is to delete the password in the Registry. Here is a step-by-step guide to deleting the password in Content Advisor.
No matter how careful you are with your computer, over time your machine will run slower and eventually your Windows program will need a fresh start. Adding numerous third-party software installations, creating and deleting thousands of documents, downloading files from the Internet, and installing way too many software patches will take its toll on your hard drive. Reformat your hard drive and reinstall Windows to get all running smoothly once again.
The use of desktop icons has served to simplify opening and using programs in Microsoft Windows. With a simple click of the mouse, an entire program can be opened. Unfortunately those desktop icons can also be deleted, sometimes accidentally or sometimes by the desktop cleaning utility that runs in Windows, but there is a simple process to recover desktop icons. Just follow these steps.
Oh no! You've mistakenly deleted a critical file from your Windows XP based personal computer and have no idea what to do! Well, chances are that you can restore your deleted files, so don't panic. With just a few simple points and clicks of your mouse you can restore deleted files and be back on track.
The icons visible on a computer desktop are shortcuts to various software and system programs. Computers using the Windows Operating System will have several shortcuts already on the desktop, and there is a method for you to add more shortcuts. These shortcuts can be moved around on the desktop, lined up in various ways or grouped together. Follow these steps to create a new shortcut on the desktop.
Junk can accumulate on a computer faster than you may realize and cleaning should be part of your routine maintenance. Cleaning the junk off the PC is simple, although it can be time consuming if you haven't done it before. This article assumes Windows XP is being used, but these steps can easily be modified for Windows 2000.
To help protect certain files and folders from accidental deletion, Microsoft Windows hides them so that these files are not visible under normal circumstances. There may come a time you need to access these files and folders. If this happens, it's easy to turn on the option that allows the user to view the hidden files and folders.
When a Microsoft Windows update interferes with productivity or the operation of your computer, you can remove it. Here's how.
With the Windows calculator in your program accessories, you can add, subtract, multiply and divide. It will save you from hunting for a hand-held calculator. Follow these steps to use it.
You've looked in the usual places and you can't find your file. It's not on the desktop or in your program file but you're sure it's somewhere. Now it's time to let your computer help you. By following these steps, you can find your missing program.
There are two types of files that Windows Explorer does not show us by default. Files with the "H" attribute are marked by the user or an application as hidden. Files with the "S" attribute are marked by the operating system as system files. These are important files that can be seen by telling Windows to show us the files that have these attributes or by removing these attributes entirely.
A file is moved when its contents are placed in a new location in the file system with the same file name and the original file is then deleted. Windows has several ways of moving files. The following steps will explain the different ways of moving this file.
The Windows language toolbar can be very helpful for people who use speech recognition or handwriting recognition with their PC. Most of us, however, have no need for these features, yet often the Window language toolbar shows up. Here are some easy steps to remove the Windows language toolbar.
If your computer uses Microsoft Windows, it is important to keep your operating system up-to-date with the latest security updates, patches and operating system updates from Microsoft. You can do this by using a utility from Microsoft that will find which updates you are lacking and recommend you install them.
Moving the taskbar on the display to a different location is an easy task to accomplish. If the user does not like the new position of the taskbar, it is a small matter to repeat the steps and return the taskbar to its original position. The operating system used the following example is Windows XP with SP2.
In Windows sometimes you have a whole bunch of windows open and you want to quickly hide all the windows so you can see the desktop.
Occasionally, you might install a computer program is that causes problems with the system, even after it has been uninstalled. Microsoft has developed a tool called "System Restore" that returns the operating system to an earlier stage. Often, the new software or hardware can be reinstalled, or the new hardware or software must be permanently removed. Here's how to use System Restore.
Users can create folders several ways in Windows and the following steps will describe some of the most common ones. A folder can be created within any existing folder, even the desktop. Be sure to note the location of the folder you are creating so you can find it on the computer later.
A file can be renamed in Windows by remembering the naming conventions. Some older programs cannot interpret long file names. In these cases, the file name must be limited to eight characters and a three-character extension. The following steps outline several methods for renaming a file in Windows.
You can customize the appearance of many folders in Windows. You can specify the image to represent the thumbnail view of a folder and the icon for the folder itself.
Shortcuts are a means of directly running a program without locating the program file. Shortcuts are represented by an icon which can be opened to start the program. There are several different ways of creating a shortcut to a computer program.
Windows does not display a file's complete path by default, even though it can be useful to know where a file is located while you're looking at it. Several methods of telling Windows to display a file's complete path are described in the following steps.
Finding a file in Windows is helpful when you don't know a file's location or the file name. The Window's file search can retrieve a list of files matching a variety of criteria. The following steps will show how to conduct an effective file search.
You can add icons to your "Start" menu and your desktop and use them as shortcuts to programs. Shortcuts on the "Start" menu offer the advantage of being more accessible when the desktop is obscured by windows. The following steps explain how to accomplish this.
A file extension is the part of the file name to the right of the period and should identify the file type. Windows uses this extension to determine which program should open the file. The following steps explain how to associate file extensions with Windows files.
Mapping a drive is the process of associating a drive from another computer on your network with a drive letter. This allows you to treat the remote drive like just another drive on your computer and easily share files across your local network. The following steps will show how to map a drive in windows.
An icon is a graphic image that represents a file, program, web page or command. These commands can be quickly executed by clicking or double-clicking on the icon depending on configuration. You can make this process even easier by adding an icon to the desktop. The following steps explain how to accomplish this.
The Windows desktop background is the image on the desktop that appears behind the shortcuts. Windows comes with a package of images and patterns to use as a background, or you can use any solid color or another image file as your background. The following steps explain how to do this.
The most convenient location to place a shortcut is the quick launch portion of the taskbar next to the "Start" button. The desktop can be obscured by windows and even the start menu can take some time to pop up. The quick launch bar is always readily available. The following steps explain how to add an icon to the Windows quick launch bar.
The file extension is the portion of the file name to the right of the period. The extension is limited in DOS to three letters. A file's extension is important because it tells us what type of file Windows thinks it is. Unfortunately, Windows does not display the file extensions for known file types by default. The following steps explain how to display the file extension.
Each file type in Windows has its own set of properties, including the program that opens each type of file, the icon used to represent those files and the definitions of various actions on those files. The following steps explain how to modify the more commonly used file type properties.
Hacking programs and operating systems has become an intricate procedure that, when done correctly, can improve their performance. Unfortunately a slip of the keyboard or a misplaced punctuation mark can lead to many problems. Here are a few safe ways to hack Windows without turning your PC into a large paperweight.
You boot up your computer, make a few phone calls, eat lunch, return to your PC and Windows is still booting up. This is a frustrating fact of life when using Microsoft's operating system. But there are ways to speed up the process.
Computer shortcuts allow you to access files, folders, network drives and programs with a simple double-click. Create a shortcut to frequently used software, data files and network locations to save on time and avoid the frustration involved in navigating your computer hierarchy or network structure.
If you want to try out Ubuntu Linux and Windows Vista but you want to keep the convenience of your Windows XP desktop then triple boot Windows XP, Vista and Ubuntu. You can have all three operating systems on one computer. Follow these instructions to learn how.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is a set of rules that allow networked devices such as computers, routers and network adapters to communicate with a DHCP server. The DHCP server assigns unique Internet Protocol addresses to each device and provides other data such as the IP addresses of the Domain Name Servers, the default gateway and the subnet mask. The following steps will show how to configure DHCP on a PC with Windows XP.
For many years PC users felt as though the days of DOS were behind them.In recent years, particularly after the release of Windows Vista, computer enthusiasts have been making multiple boot machines to run older software. In same cases it is much easier to boot your computer using a boot disk than going through the hassle of the boot menu.
Apply themes to your Microsoft Office Word 2007 document by using a set of theme colors, fonts and effects. There are several predefined themes from which to choose, and you can even use them in other Office programs, such as Excel and PowerPoint.
BitLocker is a full-volume encryption software module distributed by Microsoft as part of the Ultimate and Enterprise editions of the Windows Vista and 7 operating systems. BitLocker encrypts the full contents of a logical volume; a logical volume may consist of part of a hard disk, or span (parts of) multiple hard disks. Some of BitLocker's modes of operation require the computer to have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip to store the encryption key used for the logical volume. You can, however, enable BitLocker on your Vista computer even if the computer does not have a TPM module.
Unlike most Microsoft operating systems, Windows NT doesn't have the capacity to use true boot disks. Instead, Windows NT will allow floppies to load essential operations files into memory then switch control back to the installed system. This allows NT users to bypass damaged system files and load the actual OS for repairs.
The Windows firewall provides protection against intruders who might hack or incapacitate your computer. Keeping the firewall configured properly will ensure your system continues to run smoothly.
We all like to have images, personal photos or favorite graphics on our computer's background, commonly known as wallpaper, but many times they don't seem to fit the screen space. If you are using a wide monitor or an extended desktop, you can make adjustments to your desired image so that it fits your computer's screen properly. The process is similar for desktops and laptops running a Microsoft Windows operating system, such as Windows Vista.
Microsoft Word lets you create documents for a variety of purposes. Business documents and letters benefit from the flexibility offered by Microsoft Word to customize a document as needed. A header lets you insert contact information, a company logo and other personal touches. A footer may serve the same purpose, or provide identification for a document. Inserting a header or footer in every page of a Microsoft Word document only takes a few moments.
Windows Explorer allows files in a folder to be sorted alphabetically by the file's name. The files may be sorted in ascending or descending order. The following steps will show how to sort a file list in Windows Explorer and determine how a file list is sorted.
Internet Explorer (IE) in Windows records your Internet surfing history in two general ways. IE maintains a list of every site you've visited and a list of the URLs you've manually typed in. Although this is frequently convenient on your own computer, you may not want a record of your usage history while using someone else's computer. Here's how to delete usage history tracks in windows.
