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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, February 1, 2004
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Increase Text Size of Start Menu Items
Tips & Tricks: Find Your Windows Version
This Week's Topic: Start Menu – Documents
Questions: Display My Documents on Windows XP Desktop
Websites of Interest: February is African-American History Month; Check Your Hearing; Groundhog Day; Just For Fun – Arcade Games
Brand New!
You can now read past editions of this newsletter at our new website:
http://www.computerkindergarten.com/
Due to the large number of requests that we get for prior newsletters, we have created a website where you will be able to read and print any week’s edition that you may have missed – or would like to review.
Visit our website at computerkindergarten.com and click on the This Week button to take you to the current newsletter and a list of past newsletter.
We hope you enjoy!
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Using Links
A Link is a reference to a website. In this newsletter you will see links to
many worthwhile, informative and fun websites. Here are the instructions on
how to use links:
A link will be used one of two ways, depending on your email program.
If you see the link in blue, underlined text, all you have to do is click on
it and a window with the Website in it will automatically appear on your
screen.
If you see the link in plain text, you can copy and paste it into the address
bar on your browser. Highlight the link with your mouse, click Edit up on
the menu bar, and then click Copy from the menu that you just opened up. Open
your browser (click the Start Button, point to Programs, click on Internet
Explorer); click on the address bar. Click Edit up on the menu bar, and then
click Paste from the menu that you just opened up. Press the Enter key on the
keyboard and this will take you to the Website.
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In past newsletters, we've done articles on cookies, viruses, email hoaxes,
junk email and much more. Visit our Newsletter Archives to learn more about
these topics.
http://stsico.com/html/newsletter.html
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Want to print only part of this newsletter? Learn how at our website:
http://stsico.com/html/printemail.html
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Special Feature: Increase Text Size of Start Menu Items
Question: I just bought a new laptop. I like it very much except for one thing: when I click the Start button and point to Programs, the text size of the programs list in this menu is so small that it is difficult for me to read. On your laptops in class, everything in the menu was large enough for me to read, so I know it is possible to increase the size of the items in this list. Could you tell me how?
Answer:
Yes, you can set up your menus so these items appear larger and are easier to read.
To do so, right click on a blank spot on your taskbar and click Properties from the resulting menu.
This will display the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window. Click on the Start Menu tab at the top and then click the Customize button.
In the Customize Start Menu window that you now see, make sure the General tab is selected (if it is not, click on it). Click on the small circle to the left of Large Icons.
Click the OK button to close the Customize Start Menu window. Click the OK button to close the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window.
If this doesn’t make the text size large enough for you, there is an additional step you can take to increase the size of the menu items.
Right click on a blank spot on the desktop. From the resulting menu, left click on Properties. This will display the Desktop Properties dialog box; click on the Appearance tab at the top.
Click on the Advanced button. This will open the Advanced Appearance dialog box.
There is a drop down box labeled Item; click the down arrow on that box. From the list, click Menu.
To the right of Item: Menu, you’ll see size. Increase that number by clicking on the up arrow. Click OK to close the Advanced Appearance dialog box.
In the Desktop Properties dialog box, click the Apply button. This will apply your changes but keep the dialog box open on the desktop.
Open the menu to see if you are happy with the changes you made. If you are, click the OK button to close the Desktop Properties dialog box. If you are not happy with the changes, click the Advanced button in the Desktop Properties dialog box, and follow the above steps to increase the size of your menu items.
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Please tell your neighbors, friends and family about our classes and our
email newsletter.
If you would like us to send this newsletter to a friend, please send your
name and their email address to info@computerkindergarten.com with the words
Subscribe to Newsletter in the subject line of the email.
If you think a friend or family member would like to attend our classes,
we'll send them a printed list of upcoming classes. Send a stamped,
self-addressed envelope to: STSI - Class Schedule, 50 Lee Avenue, Babylon NY 11702.
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Tips & Tricks: Find Your Windows Version
Question: How do I know what version of Windows my computer has?
Answer:
Click the Start button. Tilt your head to the left. Vertically, along the left side of the menu, you will see the version of Windows that you are using. You don’t see anything there? Then you are using Windows XP.
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Computer Cleanup and Safety
Did you know that your computer can be infected with spyware every time you use the Internet? These are clandestine programs that send information out to advertisers and others about what you look at on the ‘Net, what websites you visit, and more. This doesn’t mean that you should stop taking advantage of all that the Internet has to offer – but you should protect your computer from spyware.
There are many free, easy-to-use programs that can safeguard your computer from infection. Learn about spyware and how to yourself protect yourself and your computer. In our Computer Cleanup and Safety manual, you will learn all about spyware, viruses, keeping your computer running optimally and much more.
To receive your copy of this invaluable manual, mail a check or money order for $9.95 to Sharper Training Solutions, Inc., 50 Lee Avenue, Babylon NY 11702. Be sure to include your address and a phone number (in case we have questions about your order).
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If you are reading this newsletter because someone forwarded it to you, there are directions for subscribing at the end of this newsletter. Or you can go to our website at http://stsico.com/html/newsletter.html where you can subscribe and view our newsletter archives.
http://stsico.com/html/newsletter.html
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Today's Topic: Start Menu – Documents
Click the Start button and you will see something that says Documents, or, if you are using Windows XP, My Recent Documents.
Point to it and a menu will open to the right displaying a list. Do the names in this list look familiar to you? They should – those are the filenames of the last 15 documents that you created or modified.
To open a document that you recently used, Click Start, point to Documents or My Recent Documents, and then click the item that want to open. You will see that the file will open in the program you used to create or modify it.
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Do you have friends who aren't as computer literate as you but would like to
be? Tell them to attend our Computer Kindergarten for Grownups class at the
library. To send them our schedule, send a stamp, self-addressed envelope to:
STSI, Class Schedule, 50 Lee Avenue, Babylon NY 11702.
Or, visit our website and print our schedule:
http://stsico.com/html/classes.html
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Question: Display My Documents on Windows XP Desktop
I just bought a new computer and I do not have a My Documents icon on the desktop. I know the folder exists because I have saved things into it. It doesn’t work the same in Windows XP as it did in Windows 98?
Answer:
Yes, it works the same. On a new computer, the icon is not displayed on the desktop in Windows XP but you can change the settings to display it. Here’s how:
Right click on a blank space of the desktop. Click Properties from the resulting menu.
This will display the Desktop Properties dialog box; click on the Desktop tab at the top.
Click on the Customize Desktop button. This will open the Desktop Items dialog box.
In the Desktop Icons area, click the checkbox next to My Computer and My Documents.
Click the OK button to close the Desktop Items dialog box. Click the OK button to close the Desktop Properties dialog box.
You will now see the My Documents and My Computer icons.
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If you are enjoying this newsletter and find the information useful, please
feel free to forward it to your friends and family members. If you would like
us to subscribe a friend, please send your name and their email address to
info@computerkindergarten.com with the words Subscribe to Newsletter in the
subject line of the email.
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Websites of Interest:
February is African-American History Month
At the Encyclopedia Britannica website, you will find information about the 400 years of African-American history, from the struggles of slavery through the successes of the Civil Rights Movement.
http://search.eb.com/blackhistory/
For biographies of famous and successful African Americans in all walks of life, take a look at this website:
http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/
Teach your children early in life to appreciate and celebrate diversity. At the Kids Domain website, your children can play African games, learn about famous African Americans, do crafts, send online greetings and much more.
http://www.kidsdomain.com/kids/links/Black_History.html
Check Your Hearing
You can take a free hearing test at this website. This is NOT a replacement for your doctor!
http://www.freehearingtest.com/core.shtml
Groundhog Day
Monday, February 2 is Groundhog Day. Let’s all say a prayer that he does not see his shadow and Spring is right around the corner! Visit the official site of Punxsutawney Phil.
http://www.groundhog.org/
Just For Fun – Arcade Games
If you have fond memories of playing PacMan, Tetras and Space Invaders, take a look at this website where you can play or download these games and many more.
http://www.neave.com/games/
If you have a favorite website that you think might be of interest to members
of this newsletter, email the address and a short description to
info@computerkindergarten.com and we'll spotlight it in an upcoming newsletter.
Does your business, club, organization or group have a website that you think
would be interesting or useful to members of this newsletter? If so, email
the address and a short description to info@computerkindergarten.com and we'll
spotlight it in an upcoming newsletter.
Do you know of any holidays or observations coming up that you'd like us to
spotlight in this newsletter? If so, let us know; we'll research them and list
some websites here. Send an email to info@computerkindergarten.com.
Questions? Send an email to info@computerkindergarten.com.
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Got a topic you'd like to see addressed? Send an email to
info@computerkindergarten.com
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