- Install the Latest Internet Browser:
Using an older browser means you're missing out on a lot of multimedia experiences. We particularly recommend Internet Explorer. If you're worried about viruses, you might try experimenting with Firefox ... it's a free download and does just about everything that I.E. does.
- Organize Your Files:
This is the single most imortant thing you can do to minimize frustration when working with a computer. Very simply, you want a separate file folder for everything you do, and you want to make sure you always use them.
If you haven't been doing this, your files are likely stored in many places, all mixed in together. The first thing you need to do is make individual folders for all the different types of work you do, and put all your documents into the correct folders Then you want to make sure the programs you use will open to those folders whenever you start work, or save something. (See #3 below).
- Make Your Programs Do What YOU Want Them to Do:
In other words, don't just assume that what your programs do, or ask you to do, necessarily has to be the best way for YOU to do things. If you don't like what they're doing, or it's inconvenient, maybe you can change them so they work the way YOU want!
For example, when you save a document you've been working on, the program will automatically open up a folder to save it in. Is that the folder you will usually WANT to save things in, or are you always having to browse for the correct one? The program will probably let you change the default 'Save' folder to anything you want, so it opens there automatically every time ... saving you work!
Another example is the automatic features of programs like Microsoft Word or Works, that do things for you whether you want them or not .. like always capitalizing the next word after you press 'Enter' ... or refusing to capitalize 'I' ... or constantly providing 'Tool Tips' that you don't want or need.
These things can all be fixed so they never happen again (unless you want them to).
There is no one set of instructions to follow here, that always work. You'll have to experiment with the programs you use often. Look in the top menu for a choice called 'Options', or 'Preferences', or 'Configure'. Play around with the settings until you know what they all do, and then choose the ones you want.
- Change Your Settings to 'HiColor'(16-bit) and at least '800x600' Resolution:
We've said this before, but it's worth repeating. Many programs and internet websites are designed for higher color depth and resolution. They look better, and you'll see more at once. Even if you have a small (14") monitor, you'll still be able to read everything just fine, but you won't have to scroll as much. Websites designed for a resolution of 640x480 will still look OK, but if you haven't changed, ones at 800x600 or higher may look really strange, maybe even be unreadable.
More importantly, when working on a document in your word processor, you can see much more of your document at once without having to scroll. It's a cheap alternative to buying a bigger monitor! (Of course, the smaller fonts are on-screen only ... you still control the size of what gets printed on paper.)
Changing is easy ... just visit the Control Panel ('Settings' off the 'Start' button) and double-click on 'Display', and then 'Settings'). You want 800x600 resolution or higher, and 'HiColor (16-bit).
Occasionally, an older program (usually a game) may demand just 256 colors (the next level down), not 'realizing' there's more. If this happens, just switch the color level back when necessary. Or upgrade those old games to something newer.
- Uninstall Programs You're Getting Rid Of, the Correct Way:
You may not have realized it, but when you get rid of a program you no longer want by finding it using 'My Computer' (or 'Explorer') and deleting it, you are cluttering up your computer with dead files that:
- use up hard drive space
- make your computer run slower
- may cause your computer to freeze occasionally
Most programs install little bits of themselves in various folders on your hard drive. These little bits are not obviously linked to the main program, and are hard to find. If you just delete the main program, you are leaving behind all these little bits. They are what cause the problems.
There are three ways to uninstall programs you no longer want, without causing these problems.
- Use 'Install/Uninstall New Programs' in Control Panel:
This will do the job. The catch is that not all programs register themselves here when they are installed. If the program you want to uninstall isn't on the list, you can't use this method.
- Use the Program's Own Unistall Subprogram:
If it exists, it will be in the same folder on your hard drive as the program itself. Look in the Start menu first. If the program you're trying to uninstall is there, it may also show the 'uninstall' program.
If the program itself isn't there, you'll have to look for its folder on your hard drive, using 'Explorer' or 'My Computer'. It may be just on the C: drive, or perhaps in the 'Program Files' folder. If you can't find it (it may be in a folder with the manufacturer's name, rather than the program's name), there's a trick for locating the folder it's in, that always works ... go to the shortcut you use to run the program, and right-click on it. Then choose 'Properties', and then 'Shortcut'. In a box labelled 'Path' you will see the exact location of the program to which the shortcut leads ... for example,
C:\Program Files\Microgames\scrabble.exe
This example would tell you to look for the program 'scrabble.exe' in the Microgames folder, which is in Program Files on your C: drive.
Use Explorer to open those folders. When you can see the game, look for another program in the same folder with a name that begins with 'uninst' or 'unwise', and ends in '.exe' ... this is the uninstall program; double-click on it, and follow directions.
- Download a Special Program for Cleaning Out Lost Files:
Your computer may have come with extra software, designed to uninstall programs. One such program is called 'Norton Utilities'; there are many others. They work just fine, and will do a good job.
If you don't have such a utility, you don't need to go out and buy one for $50; there are free programs available at freeware sites on the web that will do the same thing. Look in these sites under 'File Cleaners', or 'Program Uninstallers', or 'Drive Cleaners', or something similar. Not only will you find free programs for uninstalling software, but you will also find programs designed to find 'lost' files from previous programs you've deleted improperly, and to generally clean up your hard drive.
- Use a Virus Protector, and Keep It Updated
O.K., this isn't a way to make your computer easier to use. But it has to be said ... email viruses will trash your computer, and they're out there! The price of a good protection program is less than the money you'll spend getting a virus removed from your machine, and you won't lose important files. Ask yourself how serious it would be if you lost everything on your hard drive tomorrow. If the thought makes you sweat, get some protection ASAP, and make sure you set the virus program to get updates automatically at least once a week.
- Scan Your Computer for Malware
If you regularly surf the internet randomly, there is a good chance you will get malicious programs installed on your computer by some websites without your knowledge. These programs can do all sorts of damage to your files; they can even send everything you type (including passwords) to some third party. Your virus protector may not protect you from these!
Obtain a cleaning program and run it regularly to get rid of spyware, malware and other insidious programs that you didn't want installed. Two good ones are SpyBot and AdAware ... both are free and available on the internet (do a Google search).
Also, if you have a firewall program, turn it on and adjust the settings so you'll be warned if programs attempt to do unwanted things to your computer.
- Don't Click on Links in Email Messages
This is worth repeating: don't click on links in email messages! Even if you think you know who they're from.
- Virus programs can send out emails from infected computers with links to nasty stuff in them, and the owner of the infected computer will never know the messages have been sent using their name.
- Malicious programmers can spoof regular sites to fool you into entering your personal data. An email from eBay asking you to visit their site by clicking on a link in the message and then reentering your credit card info when you get there may be bogus. The fake eBay site will look real, but you'll be sending your information to a crook!
- Get the Google Toolbar
Visit the Google site and download their free Internet Explorer toolbar. It's free, and full of useful features, including the ability to search from the toolbar, and to block pop-up ads.
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