Fusion Computers Tips and Tricks
Hello all,
Welcome to the second edition of the Fusion Newsletter. This months newsletter will cover some of the more perplexing issues users have with their desktop.
If you have ever started your computer and noticed all of your icons are gone don’t panic. A very easy way to get them back is to left click your mouse button on any space on the desktop that is clear. Now press the F5 button and your icons will reappear. Here is another way without ever moving your fingers from the mouse. Right click on the desktop and Left click on Refresh and Hocus Pocus they reappear. Now on to the start button.
Sometimes for some strange reason a program that you have used for the last 100 years has been deleted from our start menu. What happened??? Well here’s how you can stop that from happening in the future.
Left click your start button (start bubble in Vista) and you will see at the top of the list a bar separating all of your recently used programs. Most of the time you will have the big blue E that starts your internet. That is the starting icon for Windows Internet Explorer. Find the program icon that has magically disappeared and place it above that bar. If you cannot find the starting icon for that program look under All Programs on the start menu and drag the starting icon above the permanent bar. It is now permanently tacked to the start menu.
So you sit down to check the email and you see 400 spam emails from somebody named Cindy Sue or Bobby Lou. Things can go very wrong if you click on one of those special emails. Like an installation of a virus, worm or adware.
Here we have a listing of the most commonly used computer terminology when dealing with viruses and bot makers (Viruses that turn your computer into a junk email sender) pinging off a modem in China.
Virus:
A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user.Worm:
A computer worm is a self-replicating computer program.
This will keep recreating itself even after deletion. It is also called a Lazarus Virus, because it rises from the dead.Adware:
Any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertising material to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used. These usually include those annoying pop ups.Ping:
Ping is a networking tool used to test whether a particular computer is reachable across a network or the internet.Trojan:
A piece of software that installs on your computer and appears to perform a certain action but in fact performs another such as a sending spam mail.
So the next time you get an email from Sally asking you for you PayPal information you can delete it knowing it’s a phishing scam and someone wants to bot your machine with a Trojan.
Phishing will be in the next issue. ?
“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.”
Henry David Thoreau
The internet is the information highway. It has great information that can enlighten a child. It also has not so great information that could damage a young mind. Adult content is not filtered on the internet for the most part, but can be filtered easily through Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.
You can’t always be there looking over your childs shoulder to see exactly what they are looking at on the web all the time. This feature is not an end all solution to filter out all adult content, but it is free and it does a pretty good job.
Start Internet Explorer. For most people you can start your internet and left click on Tools || Internet Options or go to Start || Control Panel || Internet Options.
Once you are on the Internet Options Window left click on the Content Tab and click on the Enable Content Button.
You have a multitude of options inside of the Enable Content Window. By moving the slider bar on the different options you can choose None, Limited, or Unrestricted.
The second tab in the Enable Content Window will allow you to choose which sites are allowed or you will never allow. Just fill in the box below Allow this web site: and choose the Always or Never button.
To protect these settings so junior cannot change them next time they get on the computer you can set a password that only you will know. Do this by clicking on the General Tab and then click on the Create Password button.
I personally do not recommend using the Advanced Tab on the Enable Content Widow, but if you would like more information on it you can check here:
As I stated before this is not the final solution to the unsolicited or unwarranted adult content that may be displayed to a child, but for a free tool it does a great job.
You can purchase a copy of Net Nanny here:
HYPERLINK "http://www.netnanny.com
Tip:
If you cannot click on the link to a web site you can always highlight it by holding down the left mouse button and scrolling over the words. Then right click on top of the highlighted words and left click Copy.
Now go to your internet and right click on the area where www.someplace.com goes and left click on Paste and press the Enter button.
Adobe Photoshop CS3
You can use a trial of Photoshop CS3 by visiting: https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop
The cost after trial ~ Upgrade: $199.00
New: $649.00
Paint.NET v3.22
A free alternative to Adobe Photoshop CS3 is Paint.Net. Paint.NET was created by multiple programmers to do the same as Photoshop.
Cost: Free.
Visit:
http://www.getpaint.net/
“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”
Albert Einstein
The Application Taskbar
Most people never heard of it. Some say it’s a legend. Actually a custom built application toolbar can be your best friend and help you with the programs you use every day. Keeping them in one convenient basket. In this article I will cover personalizing your task bar.
The taskbar is located generally at the bottom of the computer screen. The taskbar holds the time and the start button. For easy access to your most frequently used programs you can create a new tool bar located on the taskbar. How to do it:
1. Create a new folder on the desktop or anywhere you feel comfortable and name it something like games.
2. Drag all of the shortcuts you have on your desktop to the newly created folder. Shortcuts like Word or your favorite games
3. Right click on an empty space on your taskbar and left click on Toolbars and left click on New Toolbar.
4. Now find the newly created folder that has all of your programs icons in it and click the save button.
You should now see on your taskbar on the right hand side (depending on your taskbar location) your new application taskbar holding your newly created folder and all of your icons.
Now you will have all of your programs ready to go from the taskbar and you have more space on your desktop for other things. This trick works great for your frequently used files too. Do the same steps and place files into the folder instead of program starting icons.
I hope you enjoyed Fusion Newsletter. I put a lot of time and thought into this. I have a deep passion for computer technology and for customer service.
The things I talk about in my newsletter are simple issues that will only help you the customer. Yes it will take money out of my pocket, but I don’t really care. I believe in giving more than taking and you know what? Money doesn’t make me happy; Helping people does and if I get paid in the process then I will have something to pay my bills with along with my happiness.
When I first ventured out into the consulting field I would accept a dozen of home baked chocolate chip cookies for the work I did instead of cash. Sometimes I still do. That makes me feel happy in life.
Thank you for allowing me to serve you. I hope that the work I have done for you made your life easier put a smile on your face and created happiness in your world.
I wish you and your family the best in life and I hope you become wealthy in whatever path you have taken.
Sincerely ~
Jason Scouten
See you again next issue!!!
Also read Defragging the Frontline