Feb. 2, 2005

Hi, All!

This Week: Some more tech tips

A nifty idea comes from a client's PC: To access frequently-visited web sites, it is possible to create shortcuts on the desktop of your PC that automatically start Internet Explorer and connect to your desired web site. This enables you to forego using "favorites" on your browser.
To set up a shortcut while in a web site you want to save, just right click and a drop-down menu will appear. One of the options given is to "Create Shortcut"; after you click on it, a popup window will ask you to place the shortcut on the desktop. Click "OK", and you have set up quick access to your favorite web site. The icon will be part of your desktop until you remove it. This works for Internet Explorer, but I'm unsure about Netscape or some of the newer browsers.

Another techie program I use a lot is the System Monitor Program. This program displays on a graph what your PC is doing at any point and time. If your PC has slowed to a crawl, bring up system monitor, and it will display how much of your CPU (the brains of your PC) is being used and how many times the hard drive is being read or written to. The XP version will tell you what programs and tasks are running and how much of the CPU each one is using. The versions for 9x and ME just show CPU use.
Where is this little program hiding? On XP, just press "ALT+CTRL+DEL" keys at the same time. A pop up with 'System Monitor' will appear. I know, in other Windows operating systems that would reboot the PC. In Windows 9x and ME you may have to install it, as it is not part of the standard Windows install. If it has been installed, it is under "programs", "accessories", "system tools", or "system monitor".
Next week I will tell you how to install it if it is not in "system tools".

'Til next week, (ComputerFAQ#226)

Robert

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July 14, 2004 Parts of Windows Screens, such as Status Bar

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June 30, 2004 Losing the Address Bar and Accurate Communication

June 23, 2004 Spyware and How to Remove It

June 16, 2004 Suggestions for the iMac writer of June 9

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June 2, 2004 Internet Options "Cookies" Configuration

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Mar. 10, 2004 Should I Reload Windows?

Mar. 3, 2004 HTML Email Viruses: Disable Preview and Receive Only Text Email

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Jan. 28, 2004 Microsoft Extends Support for Windows '98 and ME

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Oct. 8, 2003 Fall Cleaning of Your PC

Oct. 1, 2003 Explanation of DSL

Sept. 24, 2003 Installing DSL at the Shopper

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Aug. 27, 2003 Current Viruses "Bast Worm" and "Sobig"

Aug. 20, 2003 Does Microsoft Password Make Changing Passwords Easier?

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June 25, 2003 Online Ordering

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July 05, 2000 Introduction to ComputerFAQ

July 12, 2000 Computer Definitions

July 26, 2000 More Computer Definitions

August 02, 2000 Defining Bits, Bytes and Hex

August 09, 2000 Internet Service Providers (ISP)

August 16, 2000 Backup up your PC

August 23, 2000 Backup Devices.

August 30, 2000 What is the slowest PC for Internet Access

September 06, 2000 PC Nomenclature

September 13, 2000What to do with Mail Attachements.

September 20, 2000What Happens at boot up

October 04, 2000Desktop Areas

October 18, 2000Start Button

October 25, 2000Display Made Bigger

November 01, 2000 More Monitor Controls

November 15, 2000 Right Click Display Menu

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November 29, 2000 More on Desktop Menus

December 06, 2000 Desktop Properties Menu - part 1

December 13, 2000 Desktop Properties Menu - part 2

December 20, 2000 Desktop Properties Menu - part 3