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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, February 4, 2007
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Moving the Taskbar
Tips & Tricks: Locking the Taskbar
This Week's Topic: Regular Computer Housekeeping Tasks
Websites of Interest: Wolfman Jack; William Shakespeare and the Internet; Private Islands; Search for Books; PhoneDog
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Special Feature: Moving the Taskbar
Question: Somehow my Start toolbar, the one that normally runs across the bottom of the screen, is now on the right of my screen. Can I get it back where it was before?
Answer:
Yes, you can. The taskbar can be easy to move, if you click on something on it, and then forget to release the mouse button. Doing that will drag it elsewhere on the screen.
Point the mouse on a blank spot in the middle of the taskbar and hold down the left mouse button. Keep the mouse button pressed and drag the bar in down to the middle of the bottom of your screen. You may not see the bar down at the bottom, but you should see a horizontal line. When that line is across the bottom of the screen, release the mouse button and the taskbar should appear down at the bottom.
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Tips & Tricks: Locking the Taskbar
If you find that you inadvertently move the taskbar from time to time, here is a tip to prevent that from ever happening again.
Right click on a blank spot on the taskbar. From the resulting menu, left click on Lock the Taskbar. Now, the taskbar will always stay at the bottom of the screen.
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Today's Topic: Regular Computer Housekeeping Tasks
Question: I was wondering if there are any things I should be doing on my computer on a regular basis. I would like it to last for awhile and do not want it to slowdown or have any problems.
Answer:
Yes, here are some things that you can do weekly. The following tasks should be done regularly to keep your computer secure and clean of unneeded files and extras.
Virus Scans
Open your antivirus program and ensure that it automatically checks for updates whenever the computer connects to the Internet. Weekly, open the program and run a full system scan.
More about viruses:
http://stsico.com/html/viruses.html
Spyware Scans
Spyware can infect your system and cause all kinds of problems from slowdowns to allowing hackers to get in and take over. You must have antispyware software on your computer and do periodic scans.
More about Spyware:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/062704.html
Remove Temporary Files
A temporary file is a computer file used to store information for a short time; the file is then supposed to be deleted after its use. Windows often misses many of these files, and they can cause slowdown problems with the computer.
To remove the temporary files, click the Start button and then click Search. Click All Files and Folders. In the All or part of the filename box, type in the following:
*.tmp
Note: that is the asterisk,period, tmp with no spaces.
Verify that Look in box is pointing to the C: drive and not and Document Folders. Click the Search button.
Delete all files that are found.
Note: It is possible that some temp files are being used by programs that are currently running. You may not be able to delete these files until you close the program that is using them.
Delete Cookies
Cookies are small files that are loaded onto your computer when you visit a website. They hold information about your activities and account information with that particular website.
For example if you frequently shop at a specific website, a cookie from this website identifies you and will include your name and items you might be interested in when you visit their website.
If you delete this cookie, the website will show you a generic page and you will have to log in each time using your username and password before you can access your account with them. When you order, you may also have to manually type in your name, address, and any other necessary information that the cookie would put in for you.
Many websites use cookies and after a while, your computer will have so many that the speed will start to be affected.
To delete all the cookies, go to Control Panel (Click Start button, point to Settings, click Control Panel) and open Internet Options. On the General tab, click on the button that says Delete Cookies.
If you’re using Windows XP Category View, click Start, click Control Panel. Click Network and Internet Connections. Click Internet Options. On the General tab, click on the button that says Delete Cookies.
Clear Internet History
Using Internet History, you can find Web sites and pages you have viewed in the last few weeks, days, hours, or minutes. To view history, click the History button on the toolbar. Recently visited website will appear in the left pane of the window. Click on the address to visit that website.
To pick up the pace a little, empty out Internet History. Open Internet Options as instructed above and click the Clear History button in the Internet Options dialog box.
Clear Browser Cache
Internet Explorer and other browsers cache Web pages you have accessed. This means when you return to a webpage, the page will quickly load from your hard drive and not slowly load from the Internet. This is a big time saver when you are surfing the Internet, but these temporary Internet files can add up and monopolize significant space on your hard drive.
Open the Internet Options dialog box as instructed above. Click the Delete Files button in the Temporary Internet Files section. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the deletion; click OK.
Clean up Prefetch
Windows tries to preload the data needed for running programs before you open them. This is supposed to make them open faster but what actually happens is that programs you hardly ever use take up space and the wrong data gets prefetched.
To empty out Prefetch, click the Start button and then click Run. In the Open box, type Prefetch. Click the OK button. A window will open with a list of items. All of these can be deleted.
Click Edit on the menu and then Select all. All the items on the list will be selected. Press the Delete key. You will see a confirm box asking if you want to send all the items to the Recycle bin. Click the Yes button.
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Websites of Interest:
Wolfman Jack
Do you remember Wolfman Jack? Here is a website devoted to the memory of the late disc jockey.
http://www.wolfmanjack.org/
William Shakespeare and the Internet
This website is a guide to the life and works of William Shakespeare.
http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/
Private Islands
Ever wish you could own your own island? Take a look at this website and you will see islands for sale around the world, and how much money it would take to buy them.
http://www.vladi-private-islands.de/home_e.html
Search for Books
This is a useful site for finding books and comparing prices on the Internet
http://isbn.nu/
PhoneDog
This website reviews phones and cellular, local and long distance phone plans offered so that you can find the cheapest and best service for your needs.
http://www.phonedog.com/ |
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