Monthly Computer Tips

Below is a listing of computer tips that have been listed on Computer Hope this year. All previous monthly computer tips are found on our computer tip page.

7/2008 - Microsoft Windows
Related Tips: Microsoft Windows

Create a customized looking folder in Microsoft windows by saving one of the images or a copy of an image in the folder as folder.jpg. Once this has been done if you're viewing the folders in Thumbnail view that folder will display the folder.jpg image on top of the traditional folder.

Additional information about how to change the view in Windows including switching to Thumbnail view can be found on document CH0001015.

6/2008 - Internet
Related Tips: Internet

Below is a list of our top ten Google tricks many users don't know about.

1. Definitions - Pull up the definition of the word by typing define followed by the word you want the definition for. For example, typing: define bravura would display the definition of that word.
2. Local search - Visit Google Local enter the area you want to search and the keyword of the place you want to find. For example, typing: restaurant at the above link would display local restaurants.
3. Phone number lookup - Enter a full phone number with area code to display the name and address associated with that phone number.
4. Find weather - Type weather followed by a zip code or city and state to display current weather conditions and forecasts for upcoming days.
5. Track airline flight - Enter the airline and flight number to display the status of an airline flight and it's arrival time. For example, type: delta 123 to display this flight information if available.
6. Track packages - Enter a UPS, FedEx or USPS tracking number to get a direct link to track your packages.
7. Pages linked to you - See what other web pages are linking to your website or blog by typing link: followed by your URL. For example, typing link:http://www.computerhope.com displays all pages linking to Computer Hope.
8. Find PDF results only - Add filetype: to your search to display results that only match a certain file type. For example, if you wanted to display PDF results only type: "dell xps" filetype:pdf -- this is a great way to find online manuals.
9. Calculator - Use the Google Search engine as a calculator by typing a math problem in the search. For example, typing: 100 + 200 would display results as 300.
10. Stocks - Quickly get to a stock quote price, chart, and related links by typing the stock symbol in Google. For example, typing: msft will display the stock information for Microsoft.

5/2008 - Mozilla Firefox
Related Tips: Firefox tips

Bookmark any web page form field and quickly access it from the browser address bar. Below is an example of how you could bookmark the Computer Hope search and quickly search for help anytime .

1. Right-click on the search box in the top left portion of this window.
2. Click "Add a keyword for this search".
3. In the Add bookmark window, type any name or leave it blank and for the keyword make it something simple and easy to remember. For example, "CH" for "Computer Hope" and click Ok.

Now in your address bar you can type: "CH " and then anything you need help with. For example typing: "CH motherboard" would open the search results for motherboard.

Bonus all users tip

Computer Hope has released another free online utility called "Is it up", which allows you to quickly check the status of any website on the Internet and be able to identify if it's your computer or the website that is causing you problem. This utility can be found here.

4/2008 - Mozilla Firefox
Related Tips: Firefox tips

Oops did you mistakenly close a tab you didn't want to close? Press CTRL + Shift + T to undo a close tab. Pressing this more than once will undo multiple closed tabs.

Bonus all users tip

Computer Hope recently introduced a new web tool called: Computer Hope System Information, visiting this page you'll be able to quickly display all system information detected, installed browser plugins and their versions and much more information in any browser.

3/2008 - Microsoft Windows
Related Tips: Microsoft Windows

Quickly navigate and manipulate the Microsoft Windows command prompt by dragging and dropping Windows components into the command line window. For example, type: "cd " and drag and drop a folder located anywhere on your computer into the command line window to type the full path of that folder and press enter to quickly move to that location.

2/2008 - Microsoft Windows
Related Tips: Microsoft Windows

The Microsoft Windows command prompt is an invaluable tool that can be used in conjunction with Windows. Below are some helpful shortcuts and tips that can be used to improve your abilities while in the command prompt. Users not familiar with how to enter the command prompt can find additional information about this in document CHDOS.

1. Press the up arrow key to scroll through all previously typed commands at the prompt. This is helpful for when you need to type long commands in more than once. Note. If
2. Pres the tab key to auto-complete the names of directories or files. For example, at C:\ type: "cd wi", press tab and the command prompt should complete WINDOWS as the name of the directory.
3. Familiarize yourself with the top MS-DOS commands and each of their available switches.

1/2008 - Microsoft Windows
Related Tips: Microsoft Windows

Improve overall system performance and boot time and get rid of programs you don't want running in the background by choosing to do a Selective Startup in msconfig.

1. Click Start, Run and type: msconfig and press enter.
2. In the System Configuration Utility click the Startup tab.
3. Uncheck programs you do not wish to load each time your computer starts. Once done click ok and restart the computer. After the computer boots back into Windows you will receive a prompt about Windows being in a selective startup. Check the box to not receive the prompt and click ok.

12/2007 - Microsoft Windows
Related Tips: Microsoft Windows

Save your frequent Windows XP and later version searches for future use by following the below steps.

1. Open the search and enter the search queries you wish to save. For example, you could save a search to find any remix mp3 files by entering: *remix*.mp3 in the all or part of name box.
2. Once the values have been entered test the search and allow you to save the search.
3. In the Search Results window click File and then Save Search.
4. Finally, browse to the location you wish for this file to be saved and name the file with a .fnd extension.

After completing these steps you'll be able to quickly perform a search by simply double-clicking the file.

11/2007 - Internet
Related Tips: Internet

Create easy to read and type Internet addresses from long convoluted addresses often found on popular sites such as Amazon, eBay, MapQuest, etc. by using online services that shrink the address. For example, the URL: http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/cmos.htm would become: http://tinyurl.com/ynkjhp. Below are examples of sites that allow you to copy and paste any URL into them to make them smaller.

• http://tinyurl.com/
• http://snipurl.com/
• http://tubeurl.com/
• http://cuturl.com/

10/2007 - Microsoft Windows
Related Tips: Microsoft Windows

Quickly drag one or more files to the Windows Desktop with other open windows by dragging and holding the files over an empty portion of the Windows Taskbar. If done properly all open windows should minimize and allow you to place the files or other objects on the Desktop.

9/2007 - Windows XP mouse Snap To
Related Tips: Microsoft Windows

Quickly get to the Microsoft Windows Desktop by pressing the Windows key and D at the same time on the keyboard.

8/2007 - Internet browsers, operating systems, and many programs
Related Tips: IE tips - Firefox tips

Quickly bookmark any web page in all major browsers by pressing CTRL + D on your keyboard. Pressing these two keys together will open the bookmarks or favorites for your browser and allow you to quickly place a bookmark for the page you're currently at. For example, pressing the two keys now would bookmark this page.

7/2007 - Technical support phone calls
Related Tips: Miscellaneous tips

When calling technical support or customer service it's often frustrating having to go through each of the voice prompts just to reach a human who can assist you, which is why this months tip is a link to gethuman. This site is a database of 500 of the top companies, their phone numbers and how to get directly to a human.

For example, when calling Dell Technical Support you would press 3; say "agent" at each additional prompt, ignoring messages to get directly to someone who can assist you with your problem.

• See our Computer Hope tips section for a complete list of all tips posted on Computer Hope.