Miscellaneous Computer Tasks
by Curt Minich

This Web page can be accessed at http://www.minich.com/interneteducation/miscellaneouscomputer

• Computer Maintenance
  • Rebooting your computer
    • If your computer begins to "act up" or perform functions slowly, you may want to turn the computer off and on again. This is called "rebooting" the computer. Rebooting the computer may free up more memory (i.e. RAM) allowing programs to run more quickly and efficiently.
    • I don't recommend leaving a Windows computer turned on for days at a time. However it is okay to leave the computer on all day until you go to bed.
  • Checking memory and hard drive usage space
    • Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop and click the Properties command. Under one of the tabs you will see the amount of RAM (i.e. memory) that is available. Or, by pressing the three keys, Ctrl - Alt - Delete, at the same time to bring up the Task Manager, you will find the amount of available physical memory under the Performance tab.
    • If you have less than 20% available, you may not want to open any additional programs until you have closed one or two. When little memory is available it slows down the performance of your computer. You can reboot your computer to free up memory.
    • Double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, right-click the Local Disk (C:) icon & click Properties. The pie chart will show you how much free hard drive space is available. You should not allow the amount of free space to go under 10% of the total capacity. If it does, it is time to uninstall programs and delete unnecessary files or purchase a second hard drive (see below).
  • Updating Windows
    • Use the Start/Windows Update command to update your Windows operating system. This is especially important these days since it is a security risk if you don't update Windows on a regular basis. Among other things this ensures that security patches are applied to your computer and Internet Explorer. Updating your verison of the Windows operating system (e.g. Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 95) is free.
    • You can do this manually or set your computer to automatically perform a Windows Update on a regular basis. Click the Start/Control Panel command. Double-click the System icon.Click the Automatic Update tab and choose one of the settings described there.
    • You can learn more about this process at windowsupdate.microsoft.com.
  • Backing up your hard drive.
    • Eventually a hard drive is bound to fail and you may lose all of your files and programs when it does. Or, a virus could infect your hard drive and destroy many important files.
    • Therefore, it is important to back up important data files on a regular basis.
      • You can manually copy important files to a floppy disk (only holds 1.4 MB), a Zip disk (only holds 100 MB or so), or to a blank CD (holds 700 MB).
      • You can purchase a program such as Norton Ghost, Dantz Retrospect, or use the built-in Windows Backup utility (click the Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Backup command) to schedule routine (i.e. daily, weekly, or monthly) backups.
      • You can purchase a second hard drive that comes with backup software like Retrospect that allows you to backup part or all of your hard drive. This may take a while (i.e. hours) but it is very safe and complete.
      • You can store your data on a company's remote server. Some options include box.net (1 GB free or 5 GB for $5/month), omnidrive.com (1 GB free, 10 GB for $40/year), xdrive.com (5 GB free for anyone with an AIM screen name), mozy.com (2 GB free or unlimited for $55/year), carbonite.com (unlimited for $50/year)
    • It is not too difficult to buy a new and install a new hard drive if you've filled up your original one. You can purchase a new internal or external hard drive for $50-150. You can even purchase a new hard drive and have it installed at Best Buy for an extra $40 or so. An internal hard drive uses an empty bay inside of your computer. Some people can follow the installation directions and install an internal hard drive themselves. The hard drive can be used to store files in addition to the original, existing hard drive. An external hard drive is really easy to install, although it is connected to your computer via a cable and will take up space on your computer desk. However, the Maxtor OneTouch II External USB Drive, though a bit pricey at $300, can easily be setup to backup your whole hard drive on a regular basis.
    • If you use Microsoft Outlook for your email and calendar, you should download the free backup utility that is available if you search for "personal folders backup" at www.microsoft.com/backup. This program can be used to automatically backup your email and calendar files on a regular basis.
  • Adding Memory
    • One of the best ways to extend the life of a computer is to add more memory. Don't confuse memory with hard drive space. Memory is also known as RAM.
    • Memory is often inexpensive ($30-150) and not that difficult to install. You must be careful though to purchase the correct type of memory for your brand of computer. You can buy the memory at a local store such as Best Buy or order it online.
    • Directions on how to install the memory will come with the memory and are probably included with your computer manual. There are also many tutorials online that demonstrate how to add memory. Usually it only consists of taking the cover off your computer and pushing the memory card into a blank slot. When you turn the computer on again, it will auto-detect the additional memroy.
  • System Restore
    • If something goes wrong with your computer, you may be able to use the built-in System Restore feature to recover lost data or "rewind" your computer's operating system to where it was a day or so ago. For example, if you began to have problems after you installed a particular program, you can use System Restore to return your computer to the state that it was in before you installed the new program.
    • To perform a System Restore with a Windows XP computer click the Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore command.
  • System Recovery
    • A System Recovery CD or disk (aka boot disk) should have come with your computer. Or, you may have been directed by the computer's installation directions t make a System Recovery disk. In fact, some people make a new System Recovery disk any time they are about to make a major change to their computer such as upgrading the Windows operating system. To make a boot disk:
      • With Windows 98 or Windows ME: Use the Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add Remove Programs command and click the Startup Disk tab. Click "Create a Startup Disk".
      • With Windows XP: Your Windows Recovery CD that came with your computer can be used as a boot disk.
      • search Google for "How to make a system disk" for many tutorials
    • Remember to keep your original computer manufacturer's System Recovery CD and all of the other disks and CD's that came with the computer in a safe place.
  • Reinstalling Windows
    • If something really goes wrong with your computer (e.g. hard drive crash or virus infection), you may have to reinstall the Windows operating system. This is called "reinstalling Windows".
    • Over time, your computer may begin to work slowly or certain bugs or quirks may continue to occur. Reinstalling Windows may fix these problems. In drastic situations, such as a virus infection, you may also be forced to reinstall Windows.
    • Reinstalling Windows or upgrading to the next available version of Windows should not cause you to lose your data files and installed programs but you should back up those files in case something goes wrong. You should also make sure that you have any original CD's and floppy disks that came with your computer. These will include most of the programs that came with your computer and driver programs that are necessary for things like your printer, scanner, & digital camera to work correctly.
    • Read the manual that came with your computer, visit this link to learn more about reinstalling Windows, or search google.com for "How to reinstall Windows" for many tutorials
  • Defragmenting your hard drive
    • Over time, your computer finds it necessary to break up large files and programs in order to store them on its hard drive. This causes the computer to work a little slower over time. Therefore you should defragment your hard drive for a marginal increase in performance.
    • Don't worry, the failure to defragment your hard drive will not cause your computer to crash.
    • To defrag your hard drive, use the Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter command.
  • What is ScanDisk anyway?
    • ScanDisk is a program that checks your hard drive for certain kinds of problems that, if left unfixed, could cause you to lose individual files.
    • Occasionally, like when you turn on your computer after having turned it off improperly, your Windows computer will automatically run a program called ScanDisk. Sometimes it appears as a blue screen with the message "Checking file system on C:". It will prompt you to press any key to cancel the operation. I typically cancel the ScanDisk operation and ignore it. Often, it takes a long time for ScanDisk to scan your hard drive.
  • Using Safe Mode to troubleshoot computer problems
    • If you can't get online or are experiencing computer problems, it is advisable to reboot your computer in Safe Mode which prevents much of the unnecessary software from loading. However, you still have the functionality to correct any problems in Safe Mode.
    • To get into Safe Mode, press the F8 key as soon as your system beeps when you turn it on and select the appropriate menu option (usually called Safe Mode).
    • Built into Safe Mode with Windows XP is a tool called Boot Logging. Press the F8 key as the computer is turned on to go into Safe Mode. Choose the choice called "Boot Logging". The computer will write a report to a text file showing what programs and driver software loaded successfully or not. This file will be named ntlog.txt and can be found in your Windows folder. You can reboot the computer to safe mode again and read this text file. The first file listed there that did not load properly is probably the problem.
  • Using System Information to troubleshoot computer problems
    • If your computer is not working correctly, it may be because software that you installed recently (or spyware that you accidentally installed) is causing conflicts with other programs or the Windows operating system. The program System Information is a safe way to see the list of programs that automatically start up with Windows every time you turn on your computer.
    • By examining the list you can find suspicious startup programs. The names of these programs as well as their location on the hard drive and the user name under which it is run are visible. To find out information about them, visit the web site www.sysinfo.org.
    • Click Start/Accessories/System Tools to open System Information.
    • System Information is read-only so you don't have to worry about creating any new problems but it can safely be used to see the list of programs that startup automatically.
  • Using MSCONFIG to troubleshoot computer problems
    • Many small programs automatically execute behind the scenes everytime that you boot up your computer. One way to isolate a program that may be causing problems or conflicting with another program is to selectively disable these programs using the Windows' System Configuration utility which is also known as MSCONFIG.
    • Click Start/Run and type msconfig in the box and then click OK
    • The narrow window that appears is not resizable but you can double-click the column separators to resize the columns. Click on the Startup tab to show a list of programs that are automatically set to execute each time that you turn on your computer. Uncheck the programs that you want to disable, close msconfig, and reboot your computer. The programs that you unchecked will not execute at startup until you checkmark them again. Use the process of elimination to uncheck combinations of programs until your computer works without the original problem.
    • Visit answersthatwork.com and view the "Task List" section to learn more about cryptic-sounding programs that are listed by msconfig to determine whether you really want to uncheck their entries.
    • Learn more about MSCONFIG at http://pcsupport.about.com/library/weekly/aa121502a.htm
  • Tweeking Internet Explorer to troubleshoot computer problems
    • If you've tried System Information and MSCONFIG (see above) and you still have difficulties getting online with Internet Explorer, you may need to remove some Browser Helper Objects. Spyware, adware and other nefarious programs that install themselves without your explicit permission are actually Browser Helper Objects that act as Internet Explorer plug-ins.
    • You can use the Windows' Registry Editor to remove these Browser Helper Objects. Click the Start/Run command and type regedit in the box and click OK.
    • Browse the left pane to find the key     
      
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects
      
      The keys that you'll see each have a long class ID number (CLSID). Each key refers to a Browser Helper Object. Visit www.sysinfo.org on to identify the Browser Helper Object that matches each key that is listed on your computer.
    • Rather than deleting undesirable Browser Helper Objects keys from the list, it is advisable to right-click a suspicious key and rename it, typing a name such as DONOTLOAD. This will keep it from launching. Quit Internet Explorer and restart it.
  • Getting help to fix your computer
    • You can find lots of tutorials and get plain-English help at sites such as:
      • pcsupport.about.com
      • computing.net
      • helponthe.net
      • error messages - www.generation.net/~hleboeuf/messages.htm is a site that lists the exact wording of over 300 common error messages along with links to help correct the errors
    • There are programs such as Norton Utilities (about $50; more details) that help you fix general computer problems. Depending on the manufacturer of your computer, one of these programs may be installed on your computer.
    • Visit the site dll-files.com to find a specific DLL file that your computer says is missing.
• Various Pieces of Hardware
  • USB key drive
    • It is common for many people to transfer files from one computer to another using a USB key drive. A key drive is about the size of a cigarette lighter. Practically all key drives are compatible with any computer.
    • You can drag, copy, and save files to a USB key drive as long as it is inserted into a USB port on your computer.
    • At least one kind of USB key drive named StealthSurfer allows you to keep your browser and email program on the drive in a way that you can check your email and surf the Web using someone else's computer without leaving any traces or evidence behind.
  • Digital Camera
    • Digital cameras vary but generally they interface with the computer in the same way. A digital camera usually comes with a cable that connects the camera to a USB port on your computer. The software that came with the digital camera can be used to copy the picture files from the camera to the computer for permanent storage.
    • Tutorials for using a digital camera are found at shortcourses.com.
    • You can print a digital picture on normal printer paper by opening the digital picture and clicking the Print command. However, you may want to purchase photograph quality printer paper from a store such as Staples or Best Buy. Also, certain computer printers are better-suited for printing color photos.
  • Burning CD's
    • Most new computers come with a CD-R drive or a CD-RW drive that allows you to "burn CD's". Be sure to identify what kind of CD drive that you have. A CD-RW drive typically can burn to blank CD-R or CD-RW disks. However, a CD-R drive can only burn to blank CD-R disks. A CD-R disk can only be burned once. A CD-RW disk can be treated like a floppy disk. You can burn and delete files from a CD-RW disk. You can purchase blank CD-R or CD-RW disks at stores like Best Buy or even Walmart.
    • If your computer came with a CD-R or CD-RW drive, it also came loaded with software that is used to burn CD's. These programs vary but one popular program is Roxio Easy CD Creator.
    • To burn music files onto a CD, you follow the prompts to either copy a whole music CD or select tracks from one CD that you would like to burn onto the blank CD.
    • To burn data files (i.e. normal computer files), you can format the CD first and then drag, copy, or save files onto the CD just like you would a floppy disk.
• Using your Computer Comfortably
  • Various Control Panels
    • Display
    • Mouse
    • System
  • Eye strain
    • Eye strain can be caused by a screen's flicker. Try to reduce your eye strain by increasing the monitor's refresh rate. In Windows, right-click the desktop and click "Properties". Click "Settings" and then "Advanced". Click on "Monitor" and set the refresh rate to 72 or 75 if you have a conventional monitor. If you have an LCD monitor set the refresh rate to 60.
  • Use Windows Explorer to manage files
    • To set your My Documents and My Computer icon to open to Windows Explorer mode: open Windows Explorer, select the Tools/Folder Options menu command, click the File types tab, select the file type "Folder" (not "File Folder"), click Advanced, select explore and click "Set Default".
• Security
  • Use Zone Alarm, Black Ice, or Norton Internet Security as a software firewall or use a router to protect yourself from hackers if you have a high-speed Internet connection.
  • See these workshop notes for more information about firewalls.
  • Be sure to install anti-virus software and set it to automatically update weekly.
  • See these workshop notes for more info on anti-virus software.
  • If you have children use Internet filtering software such as "Net Nanny". If you use AOL or MSN, turn on parental controls and don't share the master account with your children.
  • If you are overwhelmed with junk email (aka spam) there are programs that you can install to alleviate the problem.
  • See these workshop notes for more info on controlling spam.
  • 10 good security tips
    • Turn on Automatic Updates (Start/Control Panel/Security Settings/Automatic Updates/Automatic (recommended)
    • Visit www.windowsupdate.com regularly
    • Use the Windows Security Center to monitor XP's built-in firewall though disabling XP's firewall and installing ZoneAlarm is probably better overall
    • Make your file extensions visible so that you aren't conned into double-clicking an icon named funnypicture.jpg.exe. Go to Tools/Folder Options/View to uncheck the "Hide file extensions for known file types" option.
    • Set IE's security settings to "High" with the IE menu command Tools/Internet Options/Security/Custom Level/High and then add sites that you access often to the Tools/Internet Options/Security/Trusted Sites list.
    • If you use Firefox, consider installing the free add-in named NoScript that gives you the chance to choose what JavaScript to allow when you surf the web
    • Don't click on links in email addresses. Rather, type the address or copy and paste it into a browser.
    • Save email attachments to your hard drive and then right-click the file icon to scan it before you double-click to open it.
    • Don't use a preview pane in email programs like Outlook or Outlook Express.
    • Read all email in plain text. Do not allow HTML email. In Outlook, use the menu command Tools/Options/Preferences/Email Options. In Outlook Express, use the command Tools/Options/Read. In Thunderbird, use View/Message Body As/Plain Text
      
• Buying a new computer
  • Over time, your computer will become dated. It's processor may be too slow to run certain programs or for you to use certain pieces of hardware.
  • You may be able to extend the usable life of your computer by adding memory (see above). Check your manufacturer's recommendation for the proper type of memory and maximum amount that can be added to your computer.
  • Monitors (i.e. the computer screen) almost always work with any computer. So you probably don't need a new monitor unless you simply want to upgrade to a larger monitor or an LCD, flat-screen monitor.
  • Factors to consider when buying a new computer (roughly in order of importance):
  1. RAM (also called "memory" - megabytes MB)
  2. Screen size (in inches - measured diagonally across the screen)
  3. size of hard drive (in gigabytes - GB)
  4. processor speed (in megahertz - Mhz)

• Using your Computer Efficiently
  • Finding Lost Files
    • Use the program Windows Explorer to organize your files, make new folders, and delete files & folders.
    • Use the Start/Search command to find files that you have lost on your hard drive. Click the Start/Search command. Then, choose one of the options such as "All files and folders". Next, type part of the file name that you misplaced or a unique word that you're sure is contained in the file. Click the Search button. Hopefully, the file will appear in the window on the right. You can double-click the entry to open the file.
    • Google (free), X1 ($99), and Viapoint ($49) offer desktop search utilities that are faster and more thorough than the built-in Search command described above.
  • Installing and uninstalling software
    • Usually installing software is a matter of inserting a CD and simply answering the sequence of questions that are presented.
    • To uninstall (i.e. remove) software, you should not simply delete the program's folder or place it in your Recycle Bin. Rather, you should use the Add/Remove Programs command in your Control Panel.
    • learn more about installing and uninstalling software here
  • Shortcut Icons
    • To make a shortcut icon for you desktop, you must find the program's icon in the C:\Program Files folder. Right-click the program's icon, and click the Create Shortcut menu command. This creates a shortcut in the current folder. Then drag or copy the icon to your desktop.
  • Task Manager
    • Use the 3-key Control-Alt-Delete key combination to bring up the Task Manager
    • The Task Manager can be used to force quit a program that has froze. This can give you time to save documents in other programs on your computer before rebooting the computer.
  • File Management with Windows Explorer
    • Use Windows Explorer to keep track of your files and folders. I prefer using the two-paned version of Windows Explorer that you can reach by clicking the Start/All Programs/Accessories/Windows Explorer command. In the left pane, you can see all of the drives and folders on your computer. For example, your hard drive is found under My Computer and is designated as Local Disk (C:). Your floppy disk drive is also found there, designated as 3.5" Floppy Disk (A:). Your My Documents folder is also shown in the left pane. By clicking on the My Documents entry, in the right pane, you can see all of the individual files and folders that are contained in the My Documents folder.
    • You can delete any entry by selecting it and pressing the Delete key.
    • You can create a blank folder by clicking the File/New/Folder menu command in Windows Explorer. Type a name for the folder as soon as you create it.
    • You can move any file into another folder by dragging and dropping the file.
    • You can rename a file or folder by right-clicking it and choosing the Rename command in Renaming files and folders.
    • Most of these techniques can also be performed by double-clicking the My Documents icon or the My Computer icon on the desktop but you are only presented with a single pane version of Windows Explorer. Navigate "up" folder levels by clicking the Up button (yellow folder with a green arrow). Navigate "down" through folders by double-clicking on a folder's icon.
• Utilities
  • PowerToys - Microsoft has provided PowerToys as a free download at www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
    • TweakUI - includes the ability to customize command keys and perform some other nice customized settings to your registry
    • Alt-Tab Replacement - gives you an updated look to the Alt-Tab switcher
    • Virtual Desktop Manager - allows you to set up more than one desktop