HCARC COMPUTER HOW TOS

COMPUTER HOW TOS
Last Updated September 29, 2005
How Tos located at www.strato.net/~hamradio/howto.html

GENERAL INFORMATION
REQUIRED MAINTENANCE
INTERNET EXPLORER
OUTLOOK EXPRESS
TECHNICAL STUFF
RETURN to HCARC Home Page

Any requests or HOW TO contributions? E-mail them to me at hamradio@strato.net

Roy, AF4HV, Webmaster

General Information

TO Double Click the easy way, Click once then press the Enter key.

The first Click selects the entry and the second Click Opens or Runs it.
A Right Click brings up a menu of all other options.

TO Delete without using the Recycle Bin, hold the Shift key down while pressing the Delete key.

TO see the version number of any software product:

Click on HELP in the Toolbar,
Click on ABOUT (product name),
View the version and product ID,
Click OK to close.

TO group items for multiple deletes or moves in Windows Explorer:

Click the first item you want,
Position the cursor over the last item in the group without Clicking,
Hold the Shift key down then Click,
To add another item, position the cursor over that item without Clicking,
Hold the Ctrl key down, then Click,
To remove the entire group, Press the Delete key and Click the Yes button.
To move the entire group, Click and Hold the mouse button down over one highlighted entry,
Then drag the group to the folder on the left you want to move the items to,
Release the mouse button.

TO convert a saved hugh bitmap file (.BMP) to a small Joint Picture Group (.JPG) file:

Open the folder (My Documents, My Images) you saved the Bitmapped image,
Click on the image icon to open the Paint program,
On the Toolbar, Click on File to open the menu,
Click on the word Save As,
Expand the File As Type box and Click on the line JPEG filter,
Click the Save button,
Close the Paint program,
Go back to folder with the bitmapped image and delete it.

TO make a Thumbnail photo from a large photo file:

Locate the photo file using Windows Explorer,
Right Click on the photo file, then select OPEN WITH, then PAINT,
On the Toolbar, Click on the word IMAGE to open the menu,
Click on the word STRETCH / SKEW,
In the STRETCH box change the Horizonal and Vertical % to 10,
Click the OK button,
On the Toolbar, Click on the word FILE to open the menu,
Click on the words SAVE AS,
Give the photo a suffix, like TB, to stop overwriting the original photo,
Click on the SAVE button,
Close the Paint program,

TO make an image appear as your desktop background (wallpaper):

Open the folder with your image (My Documents, My Images),
Click on the desired image to display the image,
Right Click on the displayed image to open the menu,
Click on the words Set as Wallpaper,
Close the open folders.

TO reduce clutter on your desktop with so many icons,
organize the icons on your desktop into major category folders:

Position your cursor to a blank area on the desktop,
Right Click to cause a menu to appear,
Position your cursor over the word NEW, then wait for the sub-menu to appear,
Click on the word FOLDER,
Press the Delete KEY to remove the title New Folder,
Type in a name for the folder such as Games, or Office Software, or Video Software,
or Audio Software, etc.,
Position your cursor to another icon and Click,
Click and HOLD the cursor over an icon you want to put into the new folder, then drag
the icon over to the new folder and Release.

TO reduce clutter in your MY DOCUMENTS folder,
organize your folder My Douments into major categories:

Double Click the My Document icon on the desktop,
Position the cursor over the word File in the Toolbar, then Click,
Position your cursor over the word NEW, then wait for the sub-menu to appear,
Click on the word FOLDER,
Press the Delete KEY to remove the title New Folder,
Type in a name for the folder such as My Images, or My Text, or My Sounds, etc.,
Position your cursor to another icon or detail line, then Click,
Click and HOLD the cursor over an icon you want to put into the new folder, then drag
the icon over to the new folder and Release.

TO make your Minimize, Maximize, and Close caption buttons easier to see and use:

Position your cursor to a blank area on the desktop,
Right Click to cause a menu to appear,
Position your cursor over the word PROPERTIES, then Click,
Click on the TAB labeled APPEARANCE,
Of the three drop down boxes that appear, select the one labeled ITEM (not Scheme or Font),
Click on the arrow, which probably shows Desktop,then scroll upward to the item called Caption Buttons,
Click on Caption Buttons, then change the size to 22 or 24 by using the UP arrow box,
Click on the Apply button, then the OK button.

TO translate from one language to another
Click on:Google's Home page then select Translation Tools
You can copy a file and past it into the translation box.

RETURN to the Table of Contents

Required Maintenance

DO ONCE

Make a computer saving Startup Disk (you only need one):

Click on the START button,
Position the cursor over SETTINGS to pop up the sub menu,
Position the cursor over CONTROL PANEL, then Click,
Open the Add/Remove Programs icon by double clicking on it,
Click on the Startup Disk Tab,
Click on the CREATE DISK button,
Follow the displayed instructions,
Click on the OK button when finished.

Ensure that Internet Explorer has enough space to work with:

Right Click on the Internet Explorer's icon on the desktop,
Position the cursor over the word Properties on the menu, then Click,
On the General tab, in the middle box, Click on the SETTINGS button,
When the next screen appears, move the slider bar to allow at least a few hundred MB for space,
Close the Settings window by using the OK button,
Close the Properties window by using the OK button.

DO EVERY MONTH

Keep your system up-to-date by performing a free software update.
click on:Windows Update by Microsoft
Click on the Scan For Updates button.
The system will tell you what updates you need to keep current.
If an update is needed, click on the Install Now button.

Keep your system free of spy ware by downloading and performing a free software fix.
click on:Download SPYBOT software
Click on the Download button.
After downloading, open SPYBOT and click on Check of Problems.
After running, all checked items will be fixed by clicking on the Fix Selected Problems button.
Run every month by opening SPYBOT

Perform a free Virus checkup by clicking on:Trend Microsystems Housecall Doctor
Place a check mark in the Drive or Folders you wish to check for viruses before starting the scan.
Click on the Start Scan button
If this is you first virus scan, please wait while the virus formats load.
NOTE: If a virus is found, Double Click on the Virus Name for instructions on how to remove it.

Clean up Internet Explorer's temporary files:

Right Click on the Internet Explorer's icon on the desktop,
Position the cursor over the word Properties on the menu, then Click,
On the General tab, the top box is your Home page. For fast access,
keep the address at your local ISP address, ie, www.strato.net or the HCARC web page.
In the middle box, Click on the button Delete Files,
When the next screen appears, check the box Delete all offline content, Click OK,
In the bottom box, set the Days to keep pages in history to 1 day, click the Apply button,
Click the Clear History button,
When the screen asks you to Delete all items in your history file?, click OK.
Click the OK button on the bottom of the screen to exit.

Clean up Internet Explorer's cookie files:

Right Click on the Internet Explorer's icon on the desktop,
Position the cursor over the word Properties on the menu, then Click,
On the General tab, in the middle box, Click on the DELETE COOKIES button,
When the screen asks you Are you sure you want to delete the cookies?, click Yes,
Close the Properties window by using the OK button.

To recover space and improve efficiency, Defrag Outlook Express folders:

Open Outlook Express,
Position the cursor over the word TOOLS on the top menu,
On the drop down menu, Click on the word OPTIONS,
When the next screen appears, CLICK on the MAINTENANCE Tab,
Click on the CLEAN UP NOW Box,
If you have been using Newsgroups, click on the DELETE box, then Click YES,
Click on the COMPACT Box,
Click on the CLOSE Box when finished,
Click the OK button on the bottom of the screen to exit.

Remove any disk errors with SCANDISK:

Start Windows in the SAFE Mode by pressing F8 when starting Windows; then
Select Menu Item 3 SAFE MODE, then WAIT,
Open the MY COMPUTER folder,
Right Click your C drive icon to pop up the sub menu,
Position the cursor over Properties, then Click,
Click on the TOOLS Tab,
Click on the CHECK NOW button,
Follow the displayed instructions,
Click on the OK button when finished.
Close Windows or Restart Windows to return to normal processing.

Fix any problems in the computer's registry (the file which holds all the system parameters)

Click the START button,
Click the RUN button,
In the OPEN box, type scanreg ,
Click the OK button.

DO EVERY 3 MONTHS:

Save wasted space on your hard drive by defraging:

Start Windows in the SAFE Mode by pressing F8 when starting Windows; then
Select Menu Item 3 SAFE MODE, then WAIT,
Open the MY COMPUTER folder,
Right Click your C drive icon to pop up the sub menu,
Position the cursor over Properties, then Click,
Click on the TOOLS Tab,
Click on the DEFRAGMENT NOW button,
Follow the displayed instructions,
Click on the OK button when finished.
Close Windows or Restart Windows to return to normal processing.

RETURN to the Table of Contents

Internet Explorer

TO save an image from the world wide web:

Right Click on the displayed image to open a menu,
Click on the words Save Picture As to open a new window,
You can change the name of the image to anything you want,
Click on the My Document folder, then click on the Save button,
Click on the My Images folder, the click on the Save button,
With the names of all of your images shown, click on the Save button again.

TO allow for expanding or contracting the size of type on a web page:

Click VIEW on the toolbar,
Position the cursor over the word Toolbars to open a new sub menu,
Click on the word Customize on the menu,
From the Available Toolbar Buttons, Click the aA Size icon,
Click on the ADD > button,
Close the window.

TO re-order your Favorite sites in Internet Explorer:

Click on the favorite Icon in the ICON bar to show your favorites on the left side of the screen.
Position the cursor over the little folder shown next to a favorite, then click and hold.
Move the item to where you want it shown in the alphabetical order
(a horizonal black bar will appear when you have it between two items).
Release the click.
Repeat the last three steps until done.
Note: You can also move on favorite into another favorite the same way.

TO list your Favorite sites on the Links Bar in Internet Explorer:

If your Links Bar does not appear below the Address Bar, Double click the word Address.
Click on the Favorites Icon to open your favorite sites on the left side of the screen,
Position the cursor over your favorite site,
Click and hold down the left mouse button,
Drag the cursor to the Links Bar where you want your favorite to appear,
When you see an I-Beam (I) appear, lift your finger off the mouse button,
Right click your favorite in the Links Bar to rename it to a short name,
Click on the Favorites Icon to close your favorite sites on the left side of the screen,

TO speed up access time by removing advertisements and graphics on the world wide web:

Right Click on the Internet Explorer's icon on the desktop,
Position the cursor over the word Properties on the menu, then Click,
Click on the Advanced tab,
Scroll down till you see the box that says Show Pictures,
Click the box to remove the check mark,
Click the Apply button,
Click the OK button on the bottom of the screen to exit.

TO restore just one advertisement or graphic, after removing them, on the world wide web:

Right Click on the image icon (it looks like the UPN logo) to open a menu,
Click on the words Show Picture,

TO restore all advertisements or graphics, after removing them, on the world wide web:

On Internet Explorer, Click on the word Tools in the toolbar,
Position the cursor over the words Internet Options on the menu, then Click,
Click on the Advanced tab,
Scroll down till you see the box that says Show Pictures,
Click the box to insert the check mark,
Click the Apply button,
Click the OK button on the bottom of the screen to exit.

RETURN to the Table of Contents

Outlook Express

TO automatically delete Outlook Express messages in the Deleted Items folder:

Open Outlook Express,
Click the word TOOL in the toolbar to display a menu,
Click the word Options...,
Move the cursor over the tab called Maintenance, then Click,
Place a check mark in the box next to Empty messages from the Deleted Items folder on exit
by clicking the box,
Click the Apply button,
Click the OK button.

TO display your address book on the Outlook Express main screen:

Open Outlook Express,
Click the word View in the toolbar to display a menu,
Click the word Layout...,
Place a check mark in the box next to Contacts, by clicking the box,
Click the Apply button,
Click the OK button.

TO remove an old Internet Service Provider in Outlook Express:

Open Outlook Express,
Click the word Tools in the toolbar to display a menu,
Click the word Account in the drop down submenu,
Click the Service Provide you want to drop,
Press the Delete key,
Click the Yes button.

RETURN to the Table of Contents

Technical Stuff

TO show all files, including system files:

Double Click on the My Computer icon on the desktop,
Click on Tools in the Toolbar,
Click on Folder Options,
Click on the View tab,
Put a check mark in the box Show Hidden File and Folders,
Uncheck the box Hide Protected Operating System files.
Click the APPLY button,
Click the OK button.

TO show each and every program running:

TO bring up Windows in a Safe mode:

Press the F8 key down when the computer starts to bring up windows.
Click on one of the menu options.
Shut the computer down to restore normal operation.

TO fix a computer system problem by restoring your computer to an earlier date:

Click the Start button,
Position cursor over Programs in the Menu,
Position cursor over Accessories in the sub menu,
Position cursor over System Tools in the sub menu,
Click on System Restore,
Be sure the radio button is set to Restore My Computer to an Earlier Time
(NOT Create a Restore point),
Click the NEXT button,
Follow the instructions on the menus presented,
Click the Close button to exit.

TO restore the computer when you cannot bring up Windows:

Start the computer in the SAFE mode, then Click on the DOS menu option.
OR use your Startup Disk.
Type C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RESTORE\RSTRUI.EXE
Click on System Restore,
Be sure the radio button is set to Restore My Computer to an Earlier Time
(NOT Create a Restore point),
Click the NEXT button,
Follow the instructions on the menus presented,
Click the Close button to exit.
Shut the computer down to restore normal operation.

TO change the default program which associates with a particular file type:

Click the START button,
Position the cursor over the SETTINGS button, then Click the Control Panel on the sub menu,
Open the Folder Options icon,
Click on the File Types tab,
Click on the displayed the File Type (example TXT),
Click on the CHANGE button,
Select the new program by Clicking it,
Click the OK button,
Click the CLOSE button,
Close the Control Panel window.

TO add programs to your Quick Launch Tray next to the START button:

Create a shortcut for the program (Send To) and place it on the Desktop,
Click and Hold, then drag the shortcut to the Quick Launch Tray,
Release the mouse button.

TO speed up your computer by removing those icons in the System Tray next to the Clock:

Click the Start Button,
Click the word RUN,
Clear the box then type msconfig in the box,
Click on the OK Button,
Click on the START UP TAB,
Click on the boxes to UNCHECK them next to the software items you do not want displayed,
DO NOT UNCHECK MICROSOFT OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE.
Click on the Apply button, then the OK button.
When you restart your computer UNCHECK the box that says show on startup.

TO expand the Send To menu for the folders you want:

Open the Windows Explorer program (Start,Programs,Windows Explorer),
Right Click the folder on the left side of the screen that you want on the Sendto menu,
On the menu that pops up, position the cursor over Send To and wait for the sub menu,
On the sub menu, position the cursor over Desktop (create shortcut), and Click,
Click the Start button,
Click on Run in the Menu,
Delete anything in the text box, then type sendto
Click OK,
Shrink the Sendto screen to half size (the double screens next to the close box),
Click and HOLD the cursor over the desktop icon you want to put into the Sendto folder,
then drag the icon over to the Sendto folder and Release.
Close the Sendto folder to exit.
Yes, you can put the Send To folder on the Send To menu.

TO remove and install a new hardware device driver:

Click the START button,
Position the cursor over the SETTINGS button, then Click the Control Panel on the sub menu,
Open the System icon,
Click on the Device Manager tab,
Expand the menu (Click on the + sign) to show the device you want,
Click on the device to highlight it,
Click on the REMOVE button,
Confirm the remove by Clicking the OK button,
Click the OK button to close the tab window,
Close the Control Panel window,
Shut Down your computer and re-start it,
Let the system re-install the driver for the device it found.

TO restore the configuration between the Internet Explorer and your Internet Service Provider:

Logon to your Internet Service Provider,
Click the START button,
Click the RUN button,
In the OPEN box, type ipconfig/renew ,
Click the OK button

TO get FREE programs, click on: Free Downloads