tech_tips

Q. Is there a way I can keep Internet Explorer from trying to finish the addresses for me, or listing all the sites I've been to below the main URL?

A. Step one. Turn off auto complete. In IE 5, go to Tools, Internet Options, then click on the Content tab, under Personal Information, click on the Auto Complete button. Once that window is open, uncheck the box next to Web addresses. Hit apply.

Step two. Now click on the General tab. Press the "Clear History" button. Set the history storage to 0 days. If you are really paranoid, clear the history after every session. Also you can clean out your Temporary Internet Files too.

Q. Is there a way to keep my web-based e-mail safe?

A. Web-based e-mail does not have good security. You should realize that right from the get-go. Still, a few precautions can lower the risk of someone breaking into your Web-based e-mail. Follow these simple tips to make it safer. Click here.

Q. Is there any way the processor speed can be verified through Windows 95/98 and NT without having to look up the part and model number.

A. Yes, you can. There are various utilities that will identify your CPU make, model, and clock speed at the click of a button. Click here to see and download what is available.

Q. I've noticed that when I click on an e-mail link while surfing on-line my browseer automatically sends the address to a blank message of an e-mail program. Is there a way to change this in Internet Explorer to use the e-mail program I would like it to use?

A. This is a great feature of most browsers, but only if the program that appears is the one you would regularly use. If Internet Explorer is your browser, then you can quickly change this to correctly display the e-mail client of your choice. To change the default e-mail program, follow these steps:
      1. Click Windows Start > Settings > and select Control Panel.
      2. Double-click Internet Options and select the Programs tab.
      3. Use the E-mail pull-down menu and change it to the e-mail client of your choice.
      4. When finished selecting, hit Apply.
      5. Now, test your new change on the next e-mail link to see.

Q. How do I unistall programs in Windows 95/98?

A. If you have programs on your hard drive that you no longer need or want, it's tempting to just throw it in the recycling bin and be done with it. But programs can be made up of a number of different files all over your hard drive. Just trashing the .exe file will not erase the whole program. In fact, it may lead to issues down the road. The proper way to rid your computer of all files related to a program is to use the Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel. Here's how to find it:
        1. From your Start menu, choose Settings, then Control Panel.
        2. Double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon.
        3. Choose the Install/Uninstall tab.
        4. Now look for the program you want to dispose of, select it, and click the Add/Remove button.
If you can not find the program in the uninstall list, you need to get a seperate unistall utility like Norton's Clean Sweep. Not only does ot allow you to remove programs safely and completely, but reclaims space. It will also remove or store duplicate files and any other files you do not really need.

Q. How do I update drivers for my hardware on my computer.

A. To download and install a new or updated driver, follow these steps:
1. Connect to the Internet.
2. Right-click on My Computer.
3. Click on Properties.
4. Click on the tab marked Device Manager.
5. Click on the plus sign (+) in front of the device you want to update the drive for. Double-click on the device.
6. Click on the Driver tab.
7. Click on the Update button and it will check to see if you have the latest driver & updates it if you want it to.
You can also find updated versions of drivers by visiting the manufacturers' websites.

Q: How do you move a Window?

A: Picture this: you're sitting at your computer and you have a browser window open while you search the Web and you also have some sort of a document laid out on your screen. I'm guessing that you probably have them both open to their full size, don't you? It's just too annoying to not have it that way, right? Well, what if you wanted to move that window over so you could look at something else on your desktop? Maybe you need to open up another application from an icon on your desktop, but you can't even see your icons, because the other windows are covering them up. What to do, what to do? Don't worry, there's a simple fix. All you have to do is restore down the window you want to move. Then you can just grab the top of the window with your mouse and move it wherever you want it to be on your screen. You can even move it all the way to the bottom of your screen, so it will for sure be out of your way until you need it back up. Once the window is smaller, you can take it anywhere. Restore down is the little box between the minimize button and the close button in the upper right hand corner of any window. Just click on that and it will shrink your window down so you can move it all around. Once you're done, just click that button again and it will bring the window back to its maximum size.

Q. Is MS Outlook your preferred e-mail program? Do you dread all the typing involved in adding addresses in your address book? What would you say if you could have Outlook do all that typing for you? With a couple of quick clicks, that's exactly what Outlook will do for you.

A. Here's the scoop. First you need to open an e-mail from the contact you're looking to add to your contacts list. Now right-click on the address to add (it's located in the header of the e-mail). From the menu, select Add to Contacts. A new contact window will open with the e-mail address already entered. Simply add any additional information you'll need and click Save and Close.