HELPFUL HINTS
Here you will find out how to organise your desktop, adjust screen resolutions, search on the internet for specific things. All these things take a lot more time than necessary if you don't learn the "quick way". Below you will find a list of different things you might just find useful.
Build you Links Toolbar
- Open up the blue "e" (Internet Explorer) and unlock your task bar. To do this right click your mouse button anywhere in a blank space up the top. Left click "lock the toolbar" This will enable you to drag your toolbar a little lower and show all the LINKS that you have already set there. There will be ones there that you don't want. To get rid of these just right click on them and hit delete. There is nothing wrong with deleting these links.
- Now they are ready for you to add your own.
- Go to the web site that you use frequently eg: www.google.com
- To add it as a link drag the little blue "e" in the upper left-hand corner to the toolbar. If the name has come up very long all you have to do is right click the shortcut that you have made and choose "rename".
- When you have finished customising your task bar, remember to right-click in a blank space again at the top of internet explorer and "re-lock" the task bar so things can't be changed
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Change your screen saver
- Select a screen saver to appear on your computer when you step away from your desk
- Go to Start, then Control Panel, Display.
- Click the Screen Saver tab.
- Select a screen saver from the drop-down menu.
- Go to Preview to see how your screen saver will appear. Move your mouse to go back to the Display box.
- Under Wait, choose how many minutes you want your computer to be idle before it appears.
- Click Apply, then OK
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Customise your task bar
The task bar is a very handy navigation device found at the bottom of your screen. You can make it even more efficient by modifying it to suit your work habits.
- Right click a blank spot on the task bar and choose Properties from the shortcut menu.
- Select Lock the task bar to prevent it from being moved to a new location or resized
- Select Auto-hide the task bar to hide it when not in use.
- Select Group similar task bar buttons to have similar items grouped in one button when the task bar is crowded.
- There are many things that you can do. Choose what you like and remember, you can always change things back if you don't like what you have done.
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Take a picture of your screen
Capture the image that is currently on your computer screen. This is very handy if you need that image that is there, but it won't allow you to save the image or the image comes in 3 or 4 different sections. Or you want to show someone something who does not have access to the internet.
- To do a screen print, look for a key on your keyboard that says Prt Scr or Print Scrn.
- Open either Microsoft Word or Microsoft Paint
- Press Ctrl+V to paste it into the document.
- Save the file
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Change your screen resolution
Learn to adjust your screen resolution, which determines the amount of information that appears on your screen, measured in pixels.
- A low resolution settings such as 640 x 480, makes items (like icons) appear larger. Because they take up so much space, the screen area appears small.
- A high resolution, such as 1024 x 768, make the overall screen area appear larger by reducing the size of the items on the screen.
- To change your screen resolution, right-click in your desktop area.
- Go to Properties, then Settings, in the Display Properties box.
- Use the slide bar to adjust resolution, then hit Apply.
- The screen will turn black for a few moments, don't panic. It will ask you if you want to keep this resolution. If you like what you see, select Yes, if not, then No and your screen will go back to as it was.
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Keyboard Shortcuts
Most Microsoft Windows compatible keyboards come with a key that resembles the Windows Logo that can be used to perform quick shortcuts.
Pressing the Windows logo key on it's own displays or hides the Start Menu. (This key is usually between the Crtl and Alt key)
Ctrl + C |
Copy |
Crtl + V |
Paste |
Crtl + Z |
Undo |
Windows + R |
Opens the Run Dialogue Box |
Windows + M |
Minimises all the windows you have open |
Windows + Shift + M |
Restores the windows |
Windows + E |
Opens the My Computer Folder |
Windows + F |
Opens the Windows Help Menu |
Alt + F4 |
Will close the current IE window that you have open |
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Compress Large Files
Decrease the size of a file by compressing it in Windows XP. This will make it easier to email. Larger files are slower to transmit and some email service providers like Hotmail limit the file size you send.
- To compress a file or folder, right click it
- Point to Send To, Compressed (zipped) Folder. A compressed folder zipper icon will appear.
- Open the new compressed folder and drag files inside that you would like to compress.
- You can also use this function to make room on your computer for a program or file if space is limited.
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How do you know a web site's server is secure?
Before giving out any personal information such as credit card numbers on the web, make sure the site you're using has adequate security.
- When you're on a secure server, the first part of the URL will change from http:// to https:// The "s" stands for security. You will also notice that in the bottom right hand corner of IE it will have a little padlock (IE6) or in the top line at the end of the address bar (IE7).
- URL's that begin with https indicate an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) connection will be used. This type of connection provides privacy and authentication between computers.
- Always make sure that the "s" is present in the URL when providing personal information online.
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Be A Confident Web Surfer
Narrow down your internet search results with these helpful symbols to use with a keyword search.
- Plus Sign (+) Your search engine will find an entry containing each of your keywords, not just one of them (ie: +kakadu +camping +reservations)
- Minus Sign (-) If searching for information relating to a vast topic, use the minus sign to narrow down your results and find that specific information (ie: Keating -Paul)
- Quotation Marks (" ") An entire phrase will appear together in the order you specify (ie: "Kakadu Caravan Park")
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Multiple Email Address for One Email
How many times have you sent the same email off to many different people, one by one. There is a way of cutting down your time by sending it to more people at once.
- Open the email that you wish to send to people
- Click TO and highlight the persons name that you wish to send it to and click the TO-> button. Do this over and over adding all the people that you wish to send it to.
- Remember: all the people that you add in that list will be able to see everyone else's email addresses as well. The best way to avoid this happening is instead of click TO -> click the Bcc -> (Blind Carbon Copy) The only thing that the recipient will see is YOUR email address
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How to remove a program from your computer
Please, please , PLEASE DO NOT just delete the file. This will not remove all relevant information or files from your computer, just the main body of files
- Click Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs
- Find the program that you wish to remove and highlight it.
- Click the Change/Remove button. If it asks you to remove a system file that another program is using, DON'T delete it unless you are 110% sure NOTHING else is using that file. If in doubt.. DON'T
- When it has finished removing the file, restart your machine for a total removal
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