Computer Tips & PC Care Ideas

To only reboot Windows and not your computer, you can hold the Shift key while selecting appropriate commands from the Start menu.

To make an e-mail address "clickable" in an e-mail message, place "mailto:" in front of the e-mail address that you want to be "clickable". For example, mailto:hertips@herplanet.com

Always back up important files, including favorite places and address books onto a disc! No one ever thinks it will be their computer that crashes or is hit by a virus!
Submitted by Rachael G.

Always transfer html documents and other text-based files in ASCII mode. Transfer graphics, sounds, and executable programs in binary mode.

Signature lines include information for you and/or your business. They are appended automatically to the end of each message you send.

Signature lines are very important when posting messages on discussion groups or sending e-mail. If someone wants to get in touch with you directly, the information contained in a signature line might make them pick up the phone or look at your web site.

When writing an e-mail message, keep it short and sweet. Reading on a computer screen is a lot different than reading on paper.

To set up a new email folder, click on file, then new folder. A pop-up menu will then appear, asking you to name the folder and to choose its location. Once you've done that, click the OK button.

These are some Netscape Messenger shortcuts: Forward Message - Ctrl + L, Get New Mail - Ctrl + T,
New Message - Ctrl + M, Print Messages - Ctrl + P.

If you "think" you know how to fix your computer, stop right there and call someone who knows how.
Submitted by Linda R.

When looking into relationships online be careful and get to know the person really really good. Talk for at least a few months before setting a meeting up.
Submitted by Carey M.

If you live in a small town where the shopping is limited, the easy way to shop is on the internet...So far everything has worked out great..
Submitted by Sherie R.

To search for something in particular in windows, hit Ctrl + F. This will open up a pop-up window. The first two blocks have pull down menus to choose your category and what it does or does not contain. Then type in your search term(s).

When making webpages, always include the ALT attribute in your <IMG> tags. The browser will load the text first so the readers can read the ALT text and basically know what the image is about.

Run disc defragmenter and scandisk. Run these to keep your disk running in top performance.

Run Disk Defragmenter on a regular basis to keep your computer running at top speed. First click Start, go to Programs, to Accessories, to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter. Click the Settings tab, select the check boxes you want and then click OK. Click the drive you want to defragment, click OK.

To be sure that you don't misplace important electronic files, open a free web email account and send yourself copies of those files. You can always access the files by the internet.

If you need to get to your desktop and you have several windows open, here's a great short cut. Go to an empty spot on the task bar and press the right mouse button. Click the minimize all windows option. All open windows will minimize and you can quickly get to your desktop.

If you have the time, take a computer class.

When you are running scandisk or defragment you should disable your screen saver or it will keep restarting your program.

If a document is taking a long time to load, click STOP and then click RELOAD.

At least once a year, unplug your computer, open the case and blow out the dust. Do not wipe it with a rag. Use an aerosol can of compressed air. Dust can make the chips inside your computer run hotter and clog cooling vents.

When using the Internet Explorer browser, with your cursor on the screen, press the F11 key and your tool bar disappears. This will give you more room on the screen for viewing. Press F11 once again and your tool bar appears again.

You can add any program to your Start Menu. Just drag any object from the desktop and drop it on the Start button to be added automatically.

If you have a lot of windows open and you want to minimize them, just press and hold down the "Windows" + "M" keys. Then to Maximize them again, press and hold the "Windows" + Shift +"M" keys.

If you are working in Windows and you need help, press the F1 key.

To organize your bookmarks in Netscape Navigator, click bookmarks, slick edit bookmarks, then click File and New Folder. Give the folder the name of your choice.

Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Internet Explorer: F4 is for Open URL Address/History command line menu and F5 is for Reload the current web page.

To reboot only windows, select the appropriate commands from the Start menu and hold the Shift key.

You can load more than one web page at a time into separate browser windows. Right click (or hold the mouse down on the link if you're using a Mac) and select "open link in a new window" from the popup menu. Any time you see a drop down box, there is a good chance it contains shortcuts to what you want to do.

You can go Forward and Back through all the pages you've been to by hitting the Forward or Back buttons.

Here's a shortcut to Windows Explorer. Hold down the "Windows" key, press "E" and you are instantly in Explorer.

To add shortcuts to the quick launch toolbar in Windows 98, drag and drop the program to the quick launch area of the toolbar.

To bring up the start menu in Windows, press Ctrl + Esc. This will bring up the start menu whether you can see the start key or not.

Need a clean copy of a graphic and you have a dot matrix printer? Print the graphic oversized and then reduce it on a copy machine.

Once in a while, carefully remove the cover and dust with a small paint brush.

"Frames" are separate boxes on one web page that can hold different portions of information. You can move back and forth in separate frames without
affecting the other frames on the page.

Windows users can quickly bookmark any page. Place the mouse on any part of a Web page, click the right mouse button and selecting Internet Shortcut.

Perform short tasks through out the day that force you to stand up and walk away from the computer. These tasks should involve walking, standing, and stretching. Take these brief breaks every 20 to 30 minutes.

Place all the software, CD-ROMs, diskettes, serial and model numbers that come with your computer all in one place. If you have problems and need the
technical support people, you'll have everything you'll need in one place.

Don't want to get a second phone line installed for your computer? Try an internet "answering machine". There are many free programs available and they are easy to download, install and use.

Is the task bar in your way? You can click and drag the taskbar to any side of the desktop area.

Turn off your computer each night and restart in the morning. Restarting your computer is good for clearing up memory problems.

Be sure to make back-up discs of your important files and also a recovery disk for your operating system. You never know when you will need them.

To launch a website in a new window when using Internet Explorer, either press the Shift key while clicking the link with your mouse or right-click the
link and choose Open In New Window.

Here's a Netscape shortcut for your bookmarks. To open your bookmarks quickly, press ctrl + B.

To create a Windows shortcut, press down and hold CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.

f you have a problem with your computer make sure you have a competent person to take a look at it and fix it or it could cost you a bundle.
Submitted by Camille D.