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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, May 10, 2009
To all the Moms: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Important Reminder – Antivirus Auto Scans
Tips & Tricks: Twenty Five Most Important Rules of Email Etiquette: 19. How to Avoid Embarrassing Emails
Featured Computer Term: Add the CPU Meter Gadget to the Windows Vista Sidebar
This Week's Topic: Speed Up a Slow Computer – Disable Unnecessary Windows Services
Question: Increase Email Text Size
Websites of Interest: Freshome; How to Eat Sushi; Birds of the World; Fifteen Ways to Save Money Online: 6. Check for Amazon Coupons
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Special Feature: Important Reminder – Antivirus Auto Scans
Have your computer run full scans on a regular basis. Even though most antivirus programs have a protection feature that should find and stop any virus attempting to attack your computer, it is still a good idea to run full system scans periodically.
Most antivirus programs include the ability to set up automatic scans. To see if your program has this feature, open it up and look into the Settings menu. If you can’t find it by looking around, go into Help and do a search on Scheduling Scans. If no information is available there, visit your antivirus program’s website.
After learning how to set up the automatic periodic scan, you will have to decide when to run the scan. With many antivirus programs, a scan will slow down your computer significantly, so you do not want the scans to run while you are working. It is best to set up the scan to run when you are not using your computer. Pick a time when your computer is on; scans will not run if the computer is shut down. And, make sure your computer is not in standby or hibernation mode either; an antivirus scan will not wake the computer up.
When you are setting up the automatic scan, some antivirus programs will ask you which types of files to scan. Select all of them. Currently, there are types of files that cannot contain or be affected by viruses, but things change. There are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of hackers out there writing new viruses all the time. Who knows when one of them is going to discover a way to put viruses into files that we think are safe.
And, don’t forget to update your antivirus. While you are looking around in your antivirus program, check on the expiration date. It is important for the program to be current, so it has information on any new viruses out there.
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Tips & Tricks: Twenty Five Most Important Rules of Email Etiquette: 19. How to Avoid Embarrassing Emails
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.
How to Avoid Embarrassing Emails
Sometimes, I hit Send accidentally when a message was not yet ready for prime time. This can be quite embarrassing, especially if I thought that I could always change the text later — before sending the mail.
How do you avoid such embarrassment? Since it's difficult to disable the Send button, you should make sure the message does no harm even if you hit that button accidentally. Either leave the address field empty or address the message to yourself while you are still composing it. Only enter the final recipient when you are ready to send the mail.
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: Add the CPU Meter Gadget to the Windows Vista Sidebar
You can watch your computer’s memory and CPU usage by adding the CPU Meter gadget to your Windows Vista Sidebar. This gadget helps you monitor your computer’s performance and can let you know when you can free up some space.
To add the CPU Meter gadget to the Sidebar:
Click the plus sign at the top of the Sidebar to open the Gadget Gallery. Click and drag the CPU Meter gadget to the Sidebar.
The CPU Usage monitor, on the left, tells you how hard your CPU is working. the percentage displayed will increase with the number of programs and windows you have open, the Memory Usage monitor lets you know how much memory is being used. If the numbers go up, and the computer seems to be slowing down, consider closing some programs or windows. That should speed things up a little.
Please visit our Newsletter Archives for previous articles on the Windows Vista Sidebar:
Customize, or Turn Off, the Windows Sidebar
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/032909.html
The Windows Sidebar in Windows Vista
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/030809.html
Add Gadgets to the Sidebar in Windows Vista
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/031509.html
How to Use the Notes Gadget in Windows Vista
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/032209.html
Is there a computer term or phrase that you'd like to see an explanation of? Email it to info@computerkindergarten.com and we'll put the term and its definition in an upcoming newsletter.
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Today's Topic: Speed Up a Slow Computer – Disable Unnecessary Windows Services
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.
In our ongoing series, Speed Up a Slow Computer, 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
Note: It is recommended to turn off only one or two items at a time, write down the changes you made, and then use the computer for several days or a week to make sure everything is working fine. If problems do occur, the items that were changed can simply be changed back again.
Speed Up a Slow Computer – Disable Unnecessary Windows Services
A Windows service is a program that performs specific functions and is designed not to require user intervention. This means that the program starts up automatically when the computer is turned on and runs behind the scenes. The computer user does not have to do anything to start or work with the program and, most of the time, does not even see the program running.
Some of these services are for networked computers, ex. computers in an office that are connected to each other. They are unnecessary for the home user. Turning off these unnecessary services can improve the performance and speed of the computer.
To access Services in Windows XP, click on the Start button and open Control Panel. In Control Panel, open Administrative Tools (If you do not see Administrative Tools, click Classic view on the left). Open Services.
To access Services in Windows Vista, click on the Start orb (bottom left) and open Control Panel. In Control Panel, open Administrative Tools (If you do not see Administrative Tools, click Classic view on the left). Open Services.
To see more information about a particular service, click on it. A description of that service will appear to the left of the Name column. The Startup Type column displays Automatic, Manual or Disabled. Services marked Automatic start up when the computer is turned on and remain on and running while the computer remains on. These are the services that can be slowing the computer down.
To stop a service from automatically starting, right click on the service name. Left click on Properties. The Properties window for that service will open. To the right of Startup Type, a drop down box will display Automatic. Click the down arrow to the right and then click Disabled. Click the OK button.
To determine which services are unnecessary for your computer, visit some of the websites listed below. These lists are compiled by Windows experts who have tested computers with and without these services running.
Windows XP
http://www.ss64.com/nt/syntax-services.html
http://beemerworld.com/tips/servicesxp.htm
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
Windows Vista
http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/service411.htm
http://www.speedyvista.com/services.php
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
Important: It is strongly advised to disable only two services at a time. Note the services you disable and then use your computer for several days or a week. If there are no adverse effects after full usage of your computer, go back into Services and disable two more. If you do experience an adverse effect, go back into Services and change the services you disabled back to Automatic.
In our next edition, Defragment Your Hard Drive
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
Speed Up a Slow Computer - Uninstall Unused Programs
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/041909.html
Speed Up a Slow Computer – Turn Off Auto Start Programs
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/042609.html
Speed Up a Slow Computer – Turn Off Auto Start Programs - MSCONFIG
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/050309.html
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Question: Increase Email Text Size
Some emails are very hard to read. The letters are just too small. Can I make the letters larger without changing everything on my email program permanently?
Answer:
In some email programs you can. Outlook Express is one example of a program where you can increase the size of an email you receive. Open the email you would like to read. Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard and then roll the wheel on the mouse (the one between the left and right buttons) away from you. This will increase the size of the text.
Try this if you use Internet Explorer to check your email. It works in Yahoo and Gmail, although you may have to roll the mouse wheel in a different direction.
Give it a try in your email program!
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Websites of Interest:
Freshome
This website will give you ideas, tips and tricks for home improvement and design.
http://freshome.com/
How to Eat Sushi
Do you like sushi? This website will tell you how to eat it, give you some tips on sushi bar etiquette and more.
http://eugeneciurana.com/musings/sushi-eating-HOWTO.html
Birds of the World
Browse through pictures of birds from all over the world. Choose a continent and select from a long list of different types of birds.
http://www.rapidmonkey.com/birdsoftheworld/
Fifteen Ways to Save Money Online: 6. Check for Amazon Coupons
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.
6. Check for Amazon Coupons
You can find exceptional bargains via Amazon coupons that can add up to some pretty significant savings. The following tutorial will help you find your favorite purchases using Amazon coupons.
If you've never shopped at Amazon before, head on over and familiarize yourself with how it works and what's offered. There is a HUGE variety of stuff here, anything from books to groceries to furniture to clothing.
Once you have a few items in mind that you'd like to purchase, it's time to look for the best Amazon coupons. There are a few different ways you can save money via coupons at Amazon, and these include shipping discounts, percentage off, two for one specials, etc. Sometimes these coupons have codes that can be applied at your time of purchase (you'll see a specific field in your order form that asks you if you have any coupons - this is where you would put that numeric code!).
For instance, if you're looking for Amazon coupons for free shipping, you'll want to try FreeShipping.org. FreeShipping.org offers free shipping coupons and free printable coupons to over 800 stores at the time of this writing, anything from JC Penney to Toys R Us to Old Navy.
http://www.freeshipping.org/
If you're looking for Amazon coupons on specific items, try JungleSearch. You can specify your category, keywords, how much of a percentage off you're looking for, price range, and more.
http://www.jungle-search.com/US/
If you're looking for Amazon coupons that will give you a percentage off a specific item, try JungleCrazy. You can check out the deals on the front page, or search for specific items. All items here are at least 70% off.
http://www.junglecrazy.com/
If you'd like to browse the deeply discounted clearance items at Amazon without a lot of clicking around, try Brand Name Coupons extensive list of links to Amazon categories, separated by percentage off. Anything from 10% to 90% off can be found here.
http://www.brand-name-coupons.com/how-to-search-amazon-for-deals.html
Last but not least, if you want Amazon coupons that can be applied to your purchase at checkout, as well as for specific items, try these sites: RetailMeNot, Coupon Codes, or Dealighted. Just type in the search term "Amazon" in the search box for these sites, and you'll be give a long list of current Amazon coupon codes.
http://www.retailmenot.com/
http://www.currentcodes.com/
http://www.dealighted.com/
Tips: Most of these Amazon coupons can be used at checkout, so make sure you find them BEFORE you check out in order to cash in on the deals.
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: Shop Online
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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