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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, April 19, 2009
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Protect Your Computer from Spyware: Windows Defender for Vista
Tips & Tricks: Twenty Five Most Important Rules of Email Etiquette: 16. Do Not Write in All Caps
Featured Computer Term: The Windows Desktop
This Week's Topic: Speed Up a Slow Computer - Uninstall Unused Programs
Question: Internet Explorer 8 Toolbar Buttons
Websites of Interest: Earth Day; When; The Seven Wonders of the Modern World; Fifteen Ways to Save Money Online 3. Mapquest Road Trip Planner
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Special Feature: Protect Your Computer from Spyware: Windows Defender for Vista
Windows Defender is a free antispyware program from Microsoft that is preloaded on your computer. In many cases, you have to manually turn it on; it is not enabled automatically. The following, from dummies.com, will tell you how:
Windows Defender stops spyware from installing itself onto your PC.
Spyware and parasites are programs that latch onto Internet Explorer without your knowledge. The sneakiest programs may try to change your home page, dial toll numbers with your modem, or spy on your Web activity, sneaking your surfing habits back to the spyware program’s publisher.
Nobody wants these ugly programs, of course, so they do tricky things to keep you from removing them. That is where Vista’s new Windows Defender program comes in. It stops some spyware from installing itself automatically and removes spyware that is already latched onto your PC. Best yet, Windows Update keeps Windows Defender up-to-date to recognize and destroy the latest strains of spyware.
To make sure that Windows Defender is running automatically on your PC, visit Windows Security Center. (See note below for instructions on accessing Security Center). When running automatically, Windows Defender scans your PC each evening and alerts you to any newfound spyware.
To make Windows Defender scan your PC immediately, a potential solution when your PC is acting strange, click the Start menu, choose All Programs, and launch Windows Defender. Click the Scan button and wait for it to finish.
Note: to access Security Center:
Click the Start Orb and open Control Panel.
Click Classic View on the left. Double click Security Center.
Click Windows Defender on the left.
An alert box will open if the program is not turned on; if it is not on, click Turn on and open Windows Defender.
To learn how to protect your Windows XP computer from spyware, please visit our Newsletter Archives:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/092108.html
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Tips & Tricks: Twenty Five Most Important Rules of Email Etiquette: 16. Do Not Write in All Caps
This article is part of our ongoing series on Email Etiquette. With the help of Heinz Tschabitscher from about.com, we are taking an in depth look at email etiquette. To read previous editions of this series, please visit our newsletter archives:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/etiquette.html
The rules of email etiquette are not rules as much as they are guidelines that help avoid mistakes (like offending someone when you don't mean to) and misunderstandings (like being offended when you're not meant to).
These core rules of email etiquette help us communicate better via email.
Do Not Write in All Caps
When you write in all capital letters, this looks (and maybe sounds) to the recipient as if you were shouting. Use all caps sparingly.
It is a strong effect, and it should remain one. Similarly, text in upper case is significantly more difficult to read than lower and mixed case text.
To read previous editions of this series, please visit our newsletter archives:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/etiquette.html
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Featured Computer Term: The Windows Desktop
Questions: Some of the articles in this newsletter have referred to the Windows Desktop. Where is the Desktop on my computer?
Answer:
The Desktop is the first screen you see when you turn on your computer. It contains the icons, Taskbar and Start Button or Start Orb (depending on your version of windows).
You can arrange the items on the desktop just as you can arrange things on a real desktop: moving them around, putting one on top of another, reshuffling them, and throwing them away.
Is there a computer term or phrase that you would like to see an explanation of? Email it to info@computerkindergarten.com and we will put the term and its definition in an upcoming newsletter.
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Today's Topic: Speed Up a Slow Computer - Uninstall Unused Programs
As your Windows computer ages, its speed can decrease. You will notice an increase in response time when you give commands to open programs, files or folders, use the Internet and other tasks. There are several things you can do to speed up your computer.
Over the next several editions of this newsletter, we will present articles discussing some of the steps you can take to speed up your slow computer.
Important: before making any changes to your system, always create a Restore Point. If anything goes wrong with the changes you make, this will allow you to revert back to a point when the computer was operating correctly. Please visit our Newsletter Archives to read our article, All About Restore Points:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/040509.html
Uninstall Unused Programs
When you install a program on your computer, a connection is created between the program and the operating system. Even if you never use the program, it can slow down the computer.
Your computer may have programs on it that you installed and no longer use or programs that came packaged with it that you never even opened. Instead of allowing them to slow things down, get rid of them.
Uninstalling a Program in Windows Vista
The uninstall feature in Windows XP and Vista are somewhat similar. In Vista, click the Start Orb (bottom left) and open Control Panel. Click Control Panel Home on the left.
Under Programs, click on Uninstall a program. This will open the Uninstall or change a program window. It may take a few moments to completely populate the list.
Once all the programs are listed, scroll down and find the one you want to uninstall. Click on it to select it. Once you select it, you will see the word Uninstall appear on the blue bar above the list of programs. Click it. Windows will display a box asking for your permission to continue. Click the Continue button.
Another window should display asking you if you want to uninstall the program. Click Yes. The uninstall wizard will start up, and begin to uninstall. Depending on the program that you are uninstalling, the uninstall wizard may ask you to click OK at steps throughout the process. Just follow the instructions on the screen.
This will remove the program from your computer.
Uninstalling a Program in Windows XP
Click the Start button, choose Control Panel, choose Add or Remove Programs.
Select the program to be removed; click the remove button. Depending on the program you select to be removed, you may be prompted to confirm the removal, or Windows Uninstaller Wizard may just start up to begin the uninstallation.
Uninstalling a Program with the Program’s Uninstall Function
Many programs come with their own uninstall program that will quickly remove programs from your computer. Some installers do not put their program on the Add/Remove list, so your next place to look is in the Start menu.
Find the that program in All Programs in the Start menu and see if there is an item called Uninstall. If so, click on it and the Uninstaller will run. Follow any prompts that appear on the screen.
In our next edition, learn how to speed up your computer by turning off programs that start up automatically.
Please visit our Newsletter Archives for previous articles in our Speed Up a Slow Computer series:
Speed Up a Slow Computer - Clean the Desktop
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/040509.html
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Question: Internet Explorer 8 Toolbar Buttons
I cannot find the Stop and Refresh buttons in Internet Explorer on my new computer.
Answer:
Internet Explorer 8 has the Stop and Refresh buttons to the immediate right of the Address Bar instead of on the Toolbar.
You can change the location of those buttons so that all of your controls are grouped together. Here are the steps to do so:
Open Internet Explorer 8.
Right click on the tab bar.
Point to Customize.
Click Show Stop and Refresh Buttons before Address Bar.
The buttons will now be located to the left of the Address Bar.
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Websites of Interest:
Earth Day
Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. Learn more at these websites:
http://www.earthday.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day
http://www.earthday.gov/
When
Check out this site to find upcoming local events things to do in your area.
http://www.when.com/
The Seven Wonders of the Modern World
As a counterpoint to the seven wonders of the Ancient world, the American Society of Civil Engineers created a list of seven wonders of the modern world.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-seven-wonders-of-the-modern-world.htm
Fifteen Ways to Save Money Online 3. Mapquest Road Trip Planner
From Wendy Boswell of about.com
No matter what your financial situation may be, it is always a good idea to learn new ways to save money. Find out how you can utilize the power of the Web to save money, find good deals, and improve your financial status.
3. Mapquest Road Trip Planner
MapQuest has added a new useful feature - the Multi-stop Route Builder - that allows you to plan a road trip with multiple stops. Here's how it works:
* Add all of your locations, one at a time.
* That's it - MapQuest will parse together your various destinations. You can reorder if you feel like it, add nearby places, or send them to your mobile device.
http://www.mapquest.com/features/whatsnew_multipoint
Tip: Some websites may require you to register to use their features. When you register at websites, you may be signing up for spam (junk mail) if the recipient sells email addresses to spammers. There is a way to avoid this and still be able to take advantage of the great things that site has to offer. Read our article, Minimizing Spam – Registering Online, at our newsletter archives, to learn how use websites without getting junk mail.
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/111608.html
Next Edition: Organize your Travel Plans
Please visit our newsletter archives for previous articles in our Fifteen Ways to Save Money Online series:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/savemoney.html
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