Laura's Computer Tip Blog

Email Etiquette from PC World

lauranov — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:07:39 +0000

I thought that this was a good thing to take a second look at in our age of constant email and online communication. Take a quick look:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/169138/email_etiquette.html

Microsoft warns of computer security hole

lauranov — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:29:53 +0000

Please take a look at this article about a security hole that can let a hacker into your machine if you are using internet explorer and XP or Server 2003. Be aware of any spam emails as that is how they get in – through a link in the email. Read this news story : http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31766751/ns/technology_and_science-security

Keyboard Shortcut List – Does it Make Life Easier?

lauranov — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:49:11 +0000

Ok, so I don’t use these enough and my beloved tech guy does and thinks that I should take a minute to learn a few to make my computing experience much easier. Well I don’t know if it will or not, but here is a list of a lot of them and if you want to try with me – maybe he is right. Good luck:

Windows key – access Start menu

Windows key + Pause – open System Properties

Windows key + D – minimise/restore windows

Windows key + F – open Search window

Windows key + F1 – open Help and Support Center

Windows key + E – open Windows Explorer window

Windows key + M – minimise all windows

Windows key + TAB – move through open windows on Taskbar

Windows key + SHIFT + M – restore all windows

Hold CTRL while dragging – make a copy of selected item

Hold CTRL + SHIFT while dragging – make a shortcut to selected item

CTRL + ESC – open Start menu

CTRL + C – Copy

CTRL + X – Cut

CTRL + V – Paste

CTRL + A – Select All

CTRL + Z – Undo

CTRL + B – Bold highlighted text

CTRL + U – Underline highlighted text

CTRL + I – Italicise highlighted text

CTRL + Plus key – increase browser text size

CTRL + Minus key – decrease browser text size

CTRL + ALT + DELETE – open Task Manager

ALT + underlined letters in menus – open menu item

ALT + ENTER – show Properties of selected object

ALT + F4 – close current window or program

CTRL + F4 – close window within program

ALT + TAB – switch between open windows or programs

TAB – move forwards through control items or links in current window

SHIFT + TAB – move backwards through control items or links

ENTER – click selected control item or link

BACKSPACE – move up one folder level

HOME – go to start of current line or web page

END – go to end of current line or web page

CTRL + END – go to end of current document

PAGE UP – move up through current document or web page

PAGE DOWN – move down through current document or web page

PRINT SCREEN – take snapshot image of current screen

ALT + PRINT SCREEN – take snapshot image of current window

F2 – rename selected item

F5 – refresh current window or web page

F6 – move through window panes

MySpace An Endangered Species?

lauranov — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:35 +0000

This is definately the case. Myspace can not compete with the newer social networking sites and the reason in my view is simplicity. They are so visually and technically complicated. I hate looking at myspace pages. I tried to keep mine going but just hated it. For fun I think Facebook just wins on the simplicity of it. You can concentrate on socializing and not customizing. I guess the younger crowd and bands still like it but I see it either changing or just being a smaller force.

Fake Microsoft Outlook Security Alert – KB910721

lauranov — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:52:33 +0000

Fake Microsoft Security Alert – KB910721

It does look plausible, the spelling and grammar are surprisingly correct, for malware authors, but, as ever, one should always be cautious concerning e-mail attachments. Even those that purport to come from Microsoft and especially those that contain executables.

Steigeisen suggests that you go to the official Microsoft website to obtain your fixes since anyone who succumbed to this scam, far from enjoying ”the highest levels of stability and security“, will now be running a nasty little Trojan. It looks like this:

Update for Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express (KB910721)

Brief Description
Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express. This update is critical and provides you with the latest version of the Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express and offers the highest levels of stability and security.

Instructions

* Install Update for Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express (KB910721). To do this, follow these steps:
1. Run attached file officexp-KB910721-FullFile-ENU.exe
2. Restart Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express

Quick Details

* File Name: officexp-KB910721-FullFile-ENU.exe
* Version: 1.4
* Date Published: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:03:27 +0300
* Language: English
* File Size: 81 KB

System Requirements

* Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000; Windows 98; Windows ME; Windows NT; Windows Server 2003; Windows XP; Windows Vista

* This update applies to the following product: Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express

HP announces printer-computer hybrid – Yes or No

lauranov — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:49:37 +0000

HP announces printer-computer hybrid http://bit.ly/EXZBk and I wondered if this is the wave of the future or if we are traveling more towards a paperless world. I don’t think it is a bad idea but most of the comments atttached to this article were negative. Which way do we go, which way do we go??

Publish Your Calendar to Microsoft Office Online

lauranov — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:02:15 +0000

OK – so this one sounds like a good idea for me. I want to have a version for my family so that we can plan things and my mother can post her schedule so I can hone in on when babysitting is available. This could be definately time saving and organizational heaven!

Publish Your Calendar to Microsoft Office Online
Sharing your calendar information is even easier through the new publishing capabilities that Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 provides. Through this free Microsoft Office Online service, you can create dynamic Web calendars that your coworkers, friends, or family can subscribe to and that remain up to date.
1. Click the calendar.
2. Right-click the name of the calendar that you want to publish.
3. From the list, select Publish to Internet, and then click Publish to Office Online.
4. Follow the steps in the wizard to register for the service by using your Windows Live ID credentials.
5. When you’ve registered for the service, you can simply choose the calendar, time frame, and other settings. Outlook creates a sharing invitation that you can use to invite people to subscribe to your calendar.

Buying or Renting the IT Your Business Needs

lauranov — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:31:39 +0000

These are good insights into which way to go with using software that your business needs. http://bit.ly/ECOFW

Internet Explorer 8

lauranov — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:17:48 +0000

Funny video about Internet Explorer 8 http://bit.ly/AaRk9

Word 2007 Automatically Update Data Throughout Your Document

lauranov — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:40:28 +0000

Content controls, a new feature in Microsoft Office Word 2007, provide the ability to structure content in a document—similar to, but with more flexibility than, traditional form controls. Among other uses, content controls enable you to bind text in your document to data sources, such as file properties or Windows SharePoint Services properties. In fact, some built-in content controls called Document Property Quick Parts are set to automatically bind to your information. As a result, if you insert a Document Property Quick Part—such as the author name or the document title—into your document, that information will automatically update in the document when it changes in file properties.

To insert a Document Property Quick Part into your document, on the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Quick Parts, point to Document Property, and then click to insert the type of property you need from the options listed.

Note that if you insert several of the same type of control (such as Title) in the same document, the text in all of those controls will update to match if any one of them is changed. Also note that some types of document building blocks (such as a cover page or a header that you can insert from applicable galleries on the Insert tab) contain Document Property Quick Parts.