COMPUTER TIPS
About Windows Update (This information was taken from the Microsoft Windows Update Web Site)
Windows Update is the online extension of Windows that helps you to keep your computer up-to-date. Use Windows Update to choose updates for your computer's operating system, software, and hardware. New content is added to the site regularly, so you can always get the most recent updates and fixes to protect your computer and keep it running smoothly.
To obtain the latest updates for your computer Click on Start, Click on Windows Update. Windows Update makes it easy and only offers you updates that are specific to your computer's needs. After you the load the Critical Notification Update, Windows Update will notify you automatically with any Critical Updates as they become available.
How
do I know if I need an update?
Windows Update scans your computer and provides you with a tailored selection
of updates that apply only to the items on your computer. During the scan,
a list of categories appears under Welcome to Windows Update
and the number of updates that are available in each category is noted
in parentheses.
Critical
Updates are important!
Any update that is critical to the operation of your computer is considered
a "Critical Update," and is automatically selected
for installation during the scan for available updates. These updates
are provided to help resolve known issues, and to protect your computer
from known security vulnerabilities. Whether a critical update applies
to your operating system, software programs, or hardware, it is listed
in the "Critical Updates" category.
How
does it all work?
Follow a simple, three-step process to get the updates you need to keep
your computer up-to-date:
When you enter Windows Update, click Scan for updates.
As you browse through the available updates in each category, click
Add to select the update of your choice and add it to the collection
of updates you want to install. You can also read a full description of
each item by clicking the Read more link. When you have selected all the
updates you want, click Review and install updates, and
then click Install Now.
Note: Some updates may require that you restart your computer. Save your work and close any open programs before beginning the installation process.
Question: I can’t find a menu command, toolbar button, or dialog box option. Where is it?
Answer: The item you want may be temporarily hidden—try the following methods to make the item appear. If the item doesn’t appear, you may need to run the setup.
1.
You may need to expand the menu - If arrows appear at the bottom of the
menu, you can click the arrows, and then look for the command on the expanded
menu. You can also double-click the menu to expand it.
2. The toolbar button may be on a docked toolbar—The toolbar button may not appear on the toolbar because there is not enough room to display all the buttons. Click More Buttons, and then click the button you want.
Question: What does it mean when you receive an email message that is addressed to "Undisclosed Recipients?"
Answer: This behavior occurs when the sender uses the Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc) box to address the message and leaves the To: box blank. When you use the Bcc box to send a copy of a message to additional recipients, the recipients’ names are not visible to other recipients of the message. If you address a message using only the Bcc box, the message is addressed to “undisclosed recipients” when the recipients view the message.
Question: Why do computers lockup or stop responding?
Answer:
During the normal operation of most computer systems, memory and software
conflicts can potentially cause a computer system to stop responding.
When this happens you will lose control of the program running and the
computer keyboard and mouse may become non-responsive. When this happens,
hold down the CTRL and ALT keys, and then press DELETE (CTRL+ALT+DEL).
If the computer is in a Soft Lockup you should see the Close Program window
open. Click on the item that says Not responding. Then click on End Task.
Another box opens, Click End Task. This should close the program and return
you to the computer’s desktop. If your computer is in a Hard Lockup pressing
CTRL-ALT-DEL one time will not work. Try pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL several
times, the computer should restart. If this still doesn’t work, then you
will need to press the computer’s power button down until the computer
turns off.
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MICROSOFT WORD TIPS
Remove Text Formatting: You can remove text formatting (i.e. bold, underline, centering, etc.) easily by selecting the text and press CTRL + Spacebar. REMOVE
Paragraph Formatting: Place the cursor at the beginning of the paragraph and press CTRL + Q.
Switching Between Open Documents: To switch quickly between open documents use CTRL + F6 for the next document, CTRL + Shift + F6 for the previous document. (This works for other Microsoft Programs such as Excel, Internet Explorer.
Change Text Case - Title, CAPITAL, lower case: You can quickly change the case of text from Title to UPPER CASE to lower case by selecting the text and pressing SHIFT + F3. Each time you press SHIFT + F3, the case will change. NOTE: CTRL is the Control key on your keyboard.
HOW TO REMOVE OR ADD CLOCK TO TASKBAR (START BAR)
| METHOD 1 1. Click on Start. 2. Highlight Settings. 3. Click on Taskbar & Start Menu. 4. Click on Show Clock.
5. Click on OK. |
METHOD 2 1. Right-Click on Taskbar (make sure to click in an empty space). 2. Click on Show Clock.
3.
Click on OK. |
E-Mail
Hoaxes or Pranks
Have you ever received an urgent e-mail warning of a devastating computer virus, a safety tip for women regarding violent attacks, or urgent warning that if you use your cell phone next to a gas pump you'll blow up?
These are "Urban Legends" which are popular narratives alleged to be true and spread from person to person. These stories always involve some combination of outlandish, humiliating, humorous, terrifying or supernatural events.
They also happen to someone else and for credibility the author relies on good storytelling and the citing of an "authoritative" word-of-mouth source versus verifiable facts. There is always a moral to the story. The story may have been based on fact at one point.
However, since they are spread by so many people no two versions are ever exactly alike. The only way to stop these is to not forward them on to everyone you know.
To find out if it is legitimate or if it deserves to be sent to the trash is by consulting Urban Legends Web Sites.
Some sites are:
Internet
Scambusters: www.scambusters.org
The Urban Legend Combat Kit: www.netsquirrel.com/combatkit
The AFU and Urban Legends Archive: www.urbanlegends.com
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