Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is the basic maintenance that a computer user can use on their computer. Depending upon how the computer is used it is a good idea to run Disk Cleanup about once a week.


To do Disk Cleanup open My Computer. Right click on the drive you want to run Disk Cleanup. In the middle of the dialog box left click on Disk Cleanup. An the drive is analyzed, you will get the window you get below. Make sure that all of the items listed are checked. Then left click on OK.

My Compter Opens Lots of Settings

Left clicking on the Start button then right clicking on My Computer. Then right click. From here you will have many of the options that you can find in Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools.

Left clicking on Open will take to an overview of drives and media on your computer. It is here were you can get to utilities that are in system tools.

Left clicking on Properties you will have access system and driver information.

System Tools

From the Accessories menu select System Tools, the menu expands out to a list of general maintenance tools for your computer. Every computer owner should be familiar with five of these tools.

1. Backup
2. Disk Cleanup
3. Defragment
4. Security Center
5. System Restore

These five will help keep your computer running efficiently and securely.

Start > Accessories

Left click on the Start button in the lower left of your monitor. Then left click on All Programs. As it expands you will see at the top Accessories. Left clicking on Accessories will open another group of programs and categories.


It is in this section you will find some of those hard to find programs that come with Windows XP. The first four

1. Accessibility has a section of tools for those who are visual or hearing impaired.
2. Communication offer options of modem and special types of communication on your computer.
3. Entertainment is where sound adjustment tools can be found.
4. System Tools is where the general maintenance programs can be found.
   

Run Command - Can be used.

Left clicking on the "Start" button and then left click on "Run" brings up the Run dialog box. You can type a shorten work (or command) to launch a program. Then left click on "OK".

This is a great way to access programs or utilities that are not easy to find in the Start menu. In fact, some utilities are only accessed through Run command box.

The commands are usually short abbreviation of the program you want to start. Below is a list of the most common ones.
I put the commands that are to be typed in Bold type.

Backup - backup
Calculator - calc
Character Map - charmap
Chat - winchat
Command Line - command
DirectX Diagnostic Tool - dxdiag
Disk Cleanup - cleanmgr
Disk Defragmenter - defrag
Media Player - wmplayer
Notepad - notepad
Paint - mspaint
Registry Editor - regedit
Sound Recorder - sndrec32
System Configuration Editor - sysedit
System Configuration Utility - msconfig
System Information - msinfo32
Volume Control - sndvol32

Alt + Tab

If you have a Firefox, a muisc program, email program, and a word processing program open a the same time. The easiest way to switch between them is by holding down the "Alt" key and press the "Tab" key. Each time you press the "Tab" key you can bring other program forward.

Ctrl + Bold

When working in a Word or text editing document hold the "Ctrl" key down and press "B". Now as you type text, it will in bold. When your finished typing the text and want to undo the bold format, hold the "Ctrl" key down and press "B", again. This will take off the bold format function.

If you to bold a sentence or phrase, just take your mouse, hold down the left mouse button. and highlight that portion of text. Then hold down the "Ctrl" key and press "B", this will change the highlighted text into bold text.

Change Password

The easiest way to change the password on computers with Windows 2000 or Windows XP is from the dialog box after doing the "Three Finger Salute" (Ctrl, Alt, Delete). Then left click on the button "Change Password"

A new dialog box will pop up. You will be asked for your old password. Then in the next two lines type in the next two line your new password. This is to confirm that you have typed in what you want to type. Finally, left click on "OK" button.

Control + Alt + Delete

Those who have been around computers for 10 years or more call this tip the "Three Finger Salute". Hold down the "Ctrl" and "Alt" keys then press the "Delete" key. This will bring up a dialog box that over rides what is happening to the computer and gives you six options.

1. Lock the Computer - This way no one else can use the computer until you unlock it with your password.
2. Log Off - Log off or log out as user of the computer.
3. Shut Down - Left click on this button will give you the option shutting off or restarting your computer.
4. Change Password - This is an easy way to change you password.
5. Task Manager - The Task Manager will give you information about what is happening with you computer's software. You can see what programs are hogging the computer resources.
6. Cancel - Allows you to back out and not use any of the above options.

Ctrl + Save

Hold the "Ctrl" key down and pressing the "S" key will save whatever document or program you are using.

RAM? Processor? Hard Drive? Motherboard?

When I talk with a client, there are times they give me a look as if I had lost them. Most of the time is when I am talking about RAM, Processor speed and size of the hard drive. Below is how I explain them, afterwards they seem to give me a look like a light bulb has just went on in their eyes.

• RAM is like our conscience memory.
• Processor is like us adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.
• Hard Drive is like our sub-conscience memory.
• Motherboard or Mainboard is what brings all the computer parts together, and make them work together.
  

Screensaver

When you are away from your computer for an extended time, it is nice to have some animation come on. This prevents prying eyes from seeing your work. You can find these setting on the Screensaver tab.

In the middle of the window is a check box. This locks the computer, after the screensaver starts. You will not release the computer until you enter your password.

Windows comes with several screensaver animation. Along with being able to set their speed. There is an options for custom picture slide show or message.

At the bottom of the screensaver dialog box, you can left click on the Power button. This will open another window that give you a bunch of options concerning saving energy for desktop and laptop.

Background - Change

After opening the Display properties left click on the tab the reads Display. It is the second tab from the left. Here you can change the Background or as some people call it Wallpaper.

You have a selection of picture that come with Windows. However, by left clicking on the Browse button you can select a another picture you have put on your computer.

Note: Not all pictures will be clear when you put them as your background. The picture you choose should be the size fairly large in size. The file type should be a jpeg or bmp file format. Pictures in a gif file format will more than likely come out blurry.

Display Properties

Put your cursor over a empty portion of the monitor. Right click with your mouse, and select "Properties". this will open the dialog window where you can change color, size, and theme of you Windows Desktop.

Adjust Monitor Resolution

Once you have the Display Properties window is open then left click on the far right tab that reads, "Settings". The lower portion of this window allows you to change various display setting.

First you can change the type of video card and/or driver.

Below that drop down window on the left is "Screen resolution". This affect the detail of your monitor picture and size of images on your monitor. This will be limited by video card and type of monitor you have.

To the right is "Color quality". This sets the number of different colors your see on your monitor. This setting is real important when working with pictures or some for of graphics. This setting will also affect how you view web pages.

Left Click, Right Click

Many people get confused when to left or right click on the mouse. The simplest way I have found to remember is;

• Left Click to select what your cursor arrow is over.
• Right Click to see what options you have with what your cursor is over. (The picture on the right shows you a sample menu when you right clicking)
  

*For those people who have trouble double left clicking on a icon. Left click on the icon, that your cursor is over, then press the "Enter" key on the keyboard. This does the same as double clicking on left mouse button.

Ctrl +Select + Copy + Paste

In the lower left corner of your computer keyboard is the "Ctrl" key. This key can save a lot of time and use of the mouse.

Holding the the "Ctrl" down and pressing the "A" key will select the area in what ever window you have your cursor flashing.

From this point, keeping the "Ctrl" key held down, press the "C" key will copy the area you just selected with the "Ctrl" + "A" keys.

Now you can move over to a Word document or some graphic editing program. Keeping the "Ctrl" held down press the "V" key. This will paste what you selected and copied into that document or program.

Starting something new

I am ask all the time about how to do this or that on the computer. I hear people asking for simple basic tips and tricks they can do on their computer. Well in the early morning hours in front of my computer I came up with the idea of Window 365. Daily Windows tips and tricks for the everyday computer users.