• Have a SURGE PROTECTOR on your system (electric and phone). I use Belkin SurgeMaster II Electric and Phone Line Protection. UL 1449 Rating of 330V. $50,000 Connected Equipment Warranty. Cost $35.

  • When you are thru using your computer for the day Close all open programs on your Taskbar, then go to the Start Button then Shut Down, then turn the rest of the power off. When you go on vacation or there is a violent thunderstorm, unplug the electric and phone line.

  • What are Boot Up, Desktop, and Taskbar?
    The screen you're looking at when you first turn your computer on (boot up) is called a Desktop.
    The small pictures on the left of the Desktop are called Icons, when you click or double click on one of them it opens a program.
    The Bar that goes across the bottom of your Desktop is called a Taskbar.
    Remember Desktop, Icons, and Taskbar and what they are.

  • Move, Resize, Minimize, Maximize, and Close a Window.
    To move a window, put your cursor on the Title Bar (top line of the window), left click and drag to another location.
    To resize a Window, put your cursor on either of the four sides and when your cursor changes into a double arrow, left click and drag till you get the size you want.
    At the upper right you'll see three buttons:
    __ Minimizes the window, but leaves the program running
    (It is in your TaskBar)
    [ ] Maximize Button: It will enlarge the window to fill the screen.
    X Close Button: Click on this to close the program.
    If you click on __ [ ] X in the upper right hand corner of your Window by mistake, move your cursor to an empty spot before you let it unclick, and the computer will do nothing.

  • The size of the bar in your vertical scroll space tells you the size of the file you are viewing. If it fills half the space, you're looking at half of the file. If it fills 10% of the space, there is 90% left, and etc.

  • If you delete something by mistake do Control Z on your keyboard and most times it will correct your mistake.

  • If you need practice with your mouse, play Solitaire. If you don't need practice with your mouse, play Solitaire.
    Let me repeat and repeat and repeat, when typing a document, save the data every few minutes so if something happens to your computer you will not have to do the work all over again.
    Just do Control S very often.

  • Type: This Computer belongs to: Then type your name, address, and phone number into a WordPad document and name it FBI, then Save. If your computer is ever stolen it will identify the owner.
    Sample:
    This Computer belongs to:
    JOHN SMITH
    123 Main Street
    Lexington KY
    Phone 859 555 1234

  • V I E W:
    When in Windows Explorer, at the top of the screen click on VIEW and select DETAILS this will show the name of the file, size, type, and date modified. Now go to FOLDER OPTIONS, VIEW, click on Apply to all Folders.

    While in VIEW, click on Show Hidden files and folders, unclick Hide extensions for know file types, now you can see the file extensions like .jpg or .exe.

    When opening a Picture Folder go to VIEW and click on thumbnails and it will show you a thumbnail size photo of all your .jpg and .bmp files.

  • PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER:
    FIREWALL, ANTIVIRUS, ANTISPYWARE, WINDOW UPDATES:

    The Security Center in Windows XP

    Checks the status of your Firewall, Antivirus and Updates.

    To open Security Center
    1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
    2. Double-click Security Center. Security Center checks to make sure you have:
    • A software firewall.
    • An up-to-date antivirus program.
    • Automatic Updates set to download and install updates automatically.

    To check the configuration, click on the bottom 3 item: Internet Options, Automatic Updates, Windows Firewall.

  • FIREWALL: ANTIVIRUS: ANTISPYWARE:

    Most viruses come from an attachment sent with the email.

    12. Also configure WINDOWS XP and VISTA to automatically update.

    Go to Start > CONTROL PANEL, SECURITY CENTER, near the bottom of the screen, click on AUTOMATIC UPDATES and set the time, click on WINDOWS FIREWALL select the top option, ON. (You can do Internet Options later.)
    This will help save you from crashes and hackers.

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