PC TIPS

ENHANCE YOUR PC'S PERFORMANCE 
It can be pretty frustrating when your machine slows down drastically. Closing and opening of files becomes a problem, and applications work slowly, if they work at all. If your machine is very slow it does not always mean that you have a slow or outdated processor. Applications can slow down for other reasons too:
1) You might be running too many applications at the same time. For instance, you could be working on too many windows, or have 2-3 browser windows open at the same time, or have a mail download happening, even as you are surfing or have a couple of word documents open, etc. If this is the case, work on fewer applications and close a couple of windows.
2) The other reason for the slowness could be that there is very little free disk space, in which case you need to clean up your system of old and redundant files or increase your hard disk space.
3) If both these do not help, then you need to increase the RAM capacity of your machine, upgrade your hard disk or, of course, move to a faster processor.
Windows provides several utilities in  start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools to keep your hard disk in peak condition.
1) Use Disk Defragmenter and Scandisk regularly to speed up performance and optimize unused space.
2) In Windows 98, 2000 and ME you have further facilities such as: Compression Agent automatically compresses files and DiskCleanup that gives you advice on deleting unneeded files.
These tools will help you to optimise your disk space and thereby your PC's performance and speed.
Is the Processing Slower When You Are Surfing The Net?
Have you wondered why a messenger service opens up when you did not even ask for it? Or a dialog box opens up for some software service that you do not care the least about?
Surfing of the Internet invariably leads to downloading of small applets and programs. Most of them install themselves in the registry of the computer in such a manner that they start up on starting the computer and then reside next to the clock on the task bar consuming valuable memory space.
All of them are never ever needed at the same time. It may be a good idea to close all of them and then open them as and when they are required. This speeds up the computer considerably

Saving webpages on your computer
If you want to save a webpage to your computer, you should either save them as single HTML files (does not save graphics) or complete pages (saves text and graphics) by using File>Save As.
If you save the page using the option ‘webpage HTML only’, only the current page will be saved. However, items that are embedded in web pages will have to be saved manually.
For example, if a webpage plays a MIDI file or has a Flash or Java animation, then the particular file will have to be saved manually after looking for them in c:\windows\temporary internet files (by entering the file type as .swf or .mid, etc.)
If you save the page using ‘webpage complete’, the current page will be saved in its entirety including graphics.
If you use the ‘web archive’ option, it saves a snapshot of the current page in MIME format. This is much like the ‘webpage complete’ option but is available only if you have Outlook Express 5 or a later version.
The ‘text only’ option saves only the text on the current page.

Printing Tips & Tricks
While printers have certainly made lives easier, they can create havoc if you don't know how to trouble shoot. Here's another must `Cut & Keep' file that you need if you are one of those who encounter's regular printer woes in Windows:
 Cancelling A Print Job
In Windows, if the printer is connected directly to your computer: first, you go to Start and click on Settings, and then on Printers. Once you click on the icon that represents the printer you are using, a document window listing all the pending print jobs will appear. Click on the document that you don't want printed, and then click on Cancel Printing.
Canceling A Print Job On A Networked PC
Click on Print, after which an icon representing the printer you are using will appear on the right of your Windows task bar (next to the clock). Once you double-click on this icon, you will get a list of all the documents that are waiting to be printed. Select the document you want canceled, and then go to Cancel Printing in the Printing Menu. Remember of course that you can't delete somebody else's print command.
To Print On Envelopes
* Open the Tools menu in the word document task  bar.
* Click Envelopes and Labels.
* Key in the delivery and return address as you wish to.
* Now load the envelope as indicated on the printer and click print!
Please note that you can always change the type of font, the size, as well as the way in which the address is going to be placed on the envelope. Just select options and make the desired changes.
Printing A File Without Opening It!
This is especially useful for files that you need printouts of very often. It's easy. Go to the Start menu, click on Settings, and then Printers. Create a shortcut of the Active Printer (the printer that is in use) and paste it on the desktop. Now right-click on the file you want printed and send it to the desktop (as a shortcut). Then just drag the file that needs to be printed to the shortcut of the printer. The file will be printed automatically --- of course, make sure that the printer is on!
Save Paper By Making Changes In Print Preview
How many times have you printed something and then realized that the print out does not have the ideal layout you desire? And how often, then, did you have reprint the page all over again. All you need to do is:
- Click Print Preview on the File menu.<
- Click the text in the area you want too edit. Word zooms in on the area.
- Click Magnifier (the small icon that sshows a magnifying glass on a page) on the Print Preview toolbar. When the pointer changes from a magnifying glass to an I-beam (your regular cursor), you can begin making your changes to the document.
- To exit Print Preview and return to thhe previous view of the document, click Close. A dialogue box will ask you if you would like to save changes, just make sure you say yes.
Printing Wide Sized Pages, Eg. Excel Sheets
Especially in Excel Sheets, you will find that one column of the table is getting printed in a separate sheet of paper simply because the page won't fit in. Happens when you try to print a web page too. In such a case, select the printer `Properties' menu before you click the `Ok' command for printing. In properties, select features. Then select `Landscape' printing and click `Ok.'

Browser Basics
Take control of the Web with these Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher browser tips to quickly and easily master the interface between you and the web.

To Open A Favourite Website Instantly:
Is there a site that you frequent almost everyday? Then why wait! All you need to do is specify this site as your default homepage. To change your start page, click Tools, then select Internet Options. Now in the General tab, you can type in the site you wish should open up every time you connect. Or simply visit that site and then click Use Current option in this menu.

To Surf A Little Later:
You may often come across stuff that you want to read, but don't have time to at that moment. Simply press Ctrl-N. A new window with the same page will open and you can continue surfing while keeping the other window minimized and access it later.

Links You Want To Click On Later:
You may also come across links that you cannot click on right away. Just right click on those links. They will open in a new window, which you can access later.

Move Back and Forth With Ease Forget the mouse: Use your keyboard and press Alt with the Right Arrow key to move forward and Alt with the Left Arrow key to go back.

To Quickly Find What You Are Looking For: Lots of text and you keep scrolling up and down looking for a file. Just press Ctrl-F and this will pop-up a find box where you can type in a word to search for.

To Quickly Close Pop-up: Often you may encounter a  barrage of pop-ups and ultimately you just can't get to the page you were surfing on. Just press Alt-F4 to quickly close all windows.

Cutting & Pasting From The Web A direct copy-paste into a document can often lead to unreadable or untidy formatting of the copied portion in the file. To over come this select the text you pasted and press Ctrl + N or press Ctrl + Spacebar to remove any formatting that's copied along with the text.

Adding years to your PC's life

Most users may never have to face the prospect of repairing their PC. Well-maintained, the solid-sate components inside the case can run for five to ten years or longer and may in fact outlive the useful life of the system itself. A few hints to add years to the hardware's life.

 Cumulative power problems
This insidious power problem might be dangerous for your PC. If you work in an environment that has a lot of heavy-use electrical appliances (air conditions, laser printers, etc) your PC might be subject to ongoing stress that can lead to an eventual failure. To prevent cumulative damage, you need a surge protector or, even better, an Unlimited Power Supply (UPS).

 Static electricity
Another form of electrical mayhem comes from static electricity. A single static discharge can fuse the sub micron circuitry of a CPU, or wipe clean the boot sector of a hard disk. Although the amperage from a 'shuffle shock' is quite low, the voltage produced is high enough to fry a chip in an instant. To avoid this, it is best to…
 Use an antistatic mat and wristband to ground yourself during any inside-the-case procedure.
 Touch the metal edge of the PC's chassis or another metal object to discharge static electricity before handling components.
 Outfit your office with static electricity-reducing flooring. Sprays are available for carpeted floors that are most dangerous.
 Ensure that your PC and printer are well grounded. Also, ground yourself by touching a metal that runs to the ground every time before touching your PC.
 Do not turn off the PC from the power strip or wall outlet. Shut down the operating system completely and then use the power switch to turn the PC off.
 Make sure that your power supply is rated to handle all peripherals. If your supply is rated fewer than 200 watts, you might need to replace the supply with a more powerful model.

 Easy Fixes
This does not mean that you cannot fix problems yourself. Many problems that look like pocketbook nightmares actually end up requiring no more than a little attention and perhaps a minor expense.

 Getting Cable
One of the most common and most easily addressed breakdowns occur with the cabling inside your PC. Wires and cables carry data and power to internal and external components. Often these vital wires can get stretched, crimped, or twisted, leading to fray contacts and short circuits. So if any component ever goes down, whether a hard disk, CD-ROM, monitor or printer, always be sure to check the cables first!
Another problem is hard disk failure. When the HDD is down, your system is down. In fact the problem might be limited to the HDD cable, a gray multiwire ribbon stretched from the IDE controller on the motherboard to the back of the PC.
First, make sure the connectors are firmly sealed on both sides by pressing them firmly into their sockets. Also inspect the cable itself for any marks or tears. A hard fold in the cable might indicate a broken wire itself. Just be sure to triple check the cable alignment.
If resetting the cable does not help, try connecting the drive to the motherboard using an IDE cable that works. If the cable was the problem, your system should boot normally.
Apply the same technique to cables connecting the following peripherals.
 Hard disk drive
 Floppy drive
 CD-ROM drive

Monitor
 Printer
Mouse & Keyboard

Viral threats
The next time your HDD fails, do not assume that it has crashed. Many viruses attach to the master boot record of HDD, resulting in symptoms identical to a HDD crash. So an unexpected or intermittent 'crash' or data loss of any kind should prompt you to check for viruses.
The best way to avoid a viral infection is to run an antivirus program in the background all the time. Such a utility keeps a constant watch of your system, searching for telltale signs of viral attack such as .EXE files that change size. These programmes take stock of file inventory at every boot-up to ensure that a virus has not entered the system, before allowing you to continue.

 Cleaning house
As mentioned before, accumulated dirt and grime can wreck havoc on finely tuned PC components. Dirt and dust can gum up fans and airflow, thus causing heat problems. They can even act as thermal insulators, leading to fried CPUs and other components. Particles can get between electrical contacts so as to render add-on cards and memory sockets inoperable. Dirt on exposed drive mechanisms can cloud the optics of CD-ROM drives and hinder FDD heads.

 A breath of compressed air
Before replacing a recalcitrant CD-ROM or FDD, try clearing the housing of dirt and dust. All you need is an inexpensive can of compressed air. A thin straw attached to the nozzle's end of the can allows you to gain access to internal components and tight spaces. Fire a few bursts of air into the drive mechanism, looking for evidence of heavy dirt build-ups as you do so. Often this simple operation can clear up the problem.
Forced air can also help alleviate heat-related problems with the CPU, power supply and on board chips. Again, make sure that you reach all vital components. The power supply, in particular, needs periodic attention since the internal fan naturally draws a lot of dirt into the housing. When the power supply vents and fan gets clogged up, the unit will overheat, eventually threatening the supply of clean power to the PC. A dying power supply can have a ripple effect on your system that can lead to serious components failures, including the CPU, the HDD and the motherboard.

 Hard choices
Sometimes what seems like a disaster might actually be a minor problem. However, there will be times when you must bite the bullet and either repair or replace an expensive component. What you do depends on several factors, including the relative age and value of the damaged components and the prospect of actually repairing it.
If you do need repair help, you have several choices:
 If the component came with a system that is under warranty, contact the vendor for service. Often you will be able to avoid the cost of repair and will simply receive a new replacement part directly from the system manufacturer.
 If you bought the component separately, check its warranty. If it is still covered, contact the manufacturer.
 If you purchased a new peripheral or system and it failed to work (called 'dead on arrival' or DOA) you should be able to return it for a new part, or a full refund!!
 Out of warranty repairs can be conducted by technicians at your local computer store, ranging from single store garage shops to regional and national chains.
Increase Website Access Speed
The ideal option for this is to get hold of an accelerator software. But if you are not too comfortable with installing new stuff, then optimise your browser cache. Here's why. If you visit a site too often, but do not really need to see the updated homepage (for instance a regularly visited email service provider such as hotmail or rediffmail) then the page will be served to you with great speed if it is loaded in your browser cache. Every time you suspect there's new material on the page, you will have to click Refresh.  

To Enable The Cache: 
- Open Internet Explorer and click on Toools, then Internet Options.
- Now under the General tab click Settinngs for Temporary Internet Files. Now make your selection on how you want your browser to check for new pages. 
- Click the Question Mark (?) in the topp right and then move your cursor to any selection and click. This will give you the details of each selection. 
- You could choose Automatically since tthe browser will learn to adapt to each page over time.
- Now set the Amount of disk space to usse (This is your browser's cache). (10 per cent of the space available on your hard drive would be a fair selection, keep updating this selection as the disk space reduces) the ideal selection. Remember that more the space in the cache, more the number of pages that will load fast. 

By reducing the hardware's level of exposure to these factors, one can significantly reduce the likelihood of having to repair or replace components.

Heat: This is the most consistent enemy that hardware faces. Without moving parts, components such as the CPU, RAM, L2 cache,

graphics and soundboards are free of the debilitating effects of friction and kinetic stress. But as these chips heat up, their conductive properties can break down, eventually leading to complete failure. The threat of thermal damage is the reason why one sees massive heat sinks and extra fans mounted on Pentium and faster CPUs.

Dust and dirt devils: Another common cause for hardware failure is unclean operating environments. PCs are designed to move air through the chassis in order to keep components cool. But if the air is dusty or dirty, particles in the air stream will blanket internal components, impeding electrical connections and trap heat. Over a period of time, dirt can gum up components such as the power supply fan or CPU fan, thus inviting a potentially catastrophic failure.

Electrical stress: Almost everyone knows that a severe spike can fry system components, however fewer people are aware of the cumulative effects that long-term exposure to uneven power can have. Over time, the stress of slight under-and over-voltage can strain power supplies, chipsets, and disk drives. The result is a shortened operating life that occurs with virtually no visible symptoms.

PC Care For Me   The Heat is on
The more your computer uses its processor, more is the heat generated in the box. Remember, excessive heat damages other delicate parts in the computer (like the graphics card) over a period of time. To minimise the amount of heat generated as well as to save on electricity, you can use `Power Management' provided in the Control Panel (Start>Settings>Control Panel>Power Management).
Depending on the duration for which you use your computer daily, you can set the System Standby, Monitor Switch-Off and Hard Disk 'sleep' options to the time interval you want.
This reduces the usage of the three (processor, monitor and hard disk) saves a lot of power and also keeps your system cool!