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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, May 23, 2004
Next Monday we observe Memorial Day. To remember and honor the men and women who worked and sacrificed to make our country what it is today, and to celebrate the unofficial beginning of summer, we are combining this week and next weeks newsletter and taking next weekend off.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend! We will see you in June.
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Zipped Files
Special Feature: Browser Message: Downloading From Site
Tips & Tricks: Organizing Your Work Space
Tips & Tricks: America Online: Open an New Email from Your Address Book
Featured Computer Term: Persistent Cookie
This Week's Topic: Mouse Problems
Questions: Return to Windows Classic; The Right Mouse Button
Websites of Interest: Book Reviews; Do It Yourself; Movies; Health, Fitness and Alternative Medicine; Computer Games; Memorial Day
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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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Special Feature: Zipped Files
Question: whenever I try to download something, almost all the files are zipped. Why is this?
Answer:
A zipped file is much smaller than an unzipped file, so they do not take up as much space on the owner's Web site.
Also, zipped files don't take nearly as much time to download as the larger, unzipped files. This is important for people who use a slow, dial up connection or pay by the minute when accessing the Internet.
Visit our website to learn more about zipped files and how to work with them.
http://stsico.com/html/zip.html
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Special Feature: Browser Message: Downloading From Site
Question: Sometimes, when I am looking at a website and click on a link, the address bar at the bottom of my screen says, downloading from site. What does downloading from site mean? Is a file being downloaded onto my computer?
Answer:
When you visit any website, the contents of the site are downloaded to your computer and stored in your temporary internet files folder. This is usually the text, pictures and sometimes sound files, depending on what the particular website has on it. This enables you to view the contents of the website.
Most of the time these files are so small that you do not notice the download happening. Occasionally, one or several of the files will be large enough where you will see the download message.
Periodically you may want to clear out the temporary internet files folder. To learn how to do this, visit our website:
http://stsico.com/html/driveclean5.html
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Tips & Tricks: Organizing Your Work Space
Open a second or third program in Windows and you'll immediately have a problem: Windows and programs cover each other up, sometimes making it difficult to find the program that’s underneath it all.
Here is where the taskbar, that little bar running along the bottom edge of your screen, can help you out.
The taskbar keeps track of all the open folders and programs by displaying a button for each open Window. Look down at your taskbar right now and you will see a button for the program that you are reading this email in. if you have any other open programs, you’ll see a button for those, too.
When you want to bring a program or folder to the forefront of all the other windows, click on its button on the taskbar.
As you open more and more programs, each windows taskbar button will get smaller. If they get so small that you cannot even read the name on the button, you can make the taskbar larger. To do so, point at its edge. When the mouse pointer turns into a two-headed arrow, press and hold down your mouse button. Move the mouse upward to drag the edge of the taskbar and make it larger. When it is the size you want, release the mouse button.
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Tips & Tricks: America Online: Open an New Email from Your Address Book
If you have your Buddy List displayed, click the Address Book button on the bottom right of the window. You will then see the Address Book.
Click the name of the friend you want to send the email to, then click the Send to button. You will now see a blank email addressed to your friend. Fill out the rest of the email and send it like usual.
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Featured Computer Term: Persistent Cookie
Persistent cookies are also called permanent cookies or stored cookies.
A persistent cookie is stored on your hard drive until it expires (persistent cookies are set with expiration dates) or until you delete the cookie.
Cookies and persistent cookies are used to collect identifying information about your Internet surfing behavior or your preferences for a specific website.
Visit our website to learn more about cookies and how to remove them from your computer:
http://stsico.com/html/cookies.html
Is there a computer term or phrase that you'd like to see an explanation of?
Email it to info@computerkindergarten.com and we'll put the term and its
definition in an upcoming newsletter.
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Today's Topic: Mouse Problems
Question: My mouse doesn't work right. Sometimes, it doesn't work at all; other times, the pointer hops across the screen on its own. What can I do?
Answer:
There are several problems that can affect the mouse.
If there is no mouse arrow is on the screen after you start the computer, make sure that the mouse is plugged securely into the computer. Depending on your mouse, after you do this you may have to restart the computer.
If you see the mouse arrow on the screen but it will not move, Windows is not recognizing it. You will have to reinstall the hardware with the program that came with the mouse.
The arrow will jump around on the screen if the mouse is dirty. To clean it, turn the mouse upside-down and clean off any dirt stuck to the bottom. Then open the cover and remove the mouse ball. Wipe out any dust that you see in there. Use a Qtip to clean the grim and dust off the little rollers.
If the mouse was working fine and now the buttons are reversed, the right- or left-handed button configuration was changed. Go into Control Panel and open the Mouse Settings Dialog box. Make sure that the right- or left-handed configuration is set to match your needs.
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Question: Return to Windows Classic
I just got a new computer with Windows XP. I hate it! Can I go back to Windows 98?
Answer:
You can not go back to using Windows 98 but you can change XP to look just like 98. To do so:
Right-click on a blank area on your desktop. From the resulting menu, left click on Properties. You will see the Display Properties dialog box.
Across the top of the dialog box, you will see sheet tabs. Click the Appearance tab.
You will see Windows and Buttons, and, right below that, Windows XP Style. To the right there is a small down arrow; click it. A menu will open; select Windows Classic and click the OK button.
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Question: The Right Mouse Button
What is the right mouse button for?
Answer:
The right mouse button displays a context menu, also know as a shortcut menu. Take a look at our website to learn more about the right mouse button and what it is used for.
http://stsico.com/html/rightmouse.html
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Websites of Interest:
Book Reviews
Search for a specific title or browse through the categories. The reviews are simple, you'll get the general idea of the book and the reviewers thoughts on it. Also includes interesting interviews with some of the authors.
http://www.bookreview.com/
Do It Yourself
DoItYourself.com is a home improvement and repair site. Take a look for info and repair tips for all kinds of home problems and jobs.
http://doityourself.com/
Movies
You'll find information on upcoming movie releases, actor interviews, movie trailers, sneak peeks, reviews, statistics, news, and much more!
http://www.movieweb.com/
Health, Fitness and Alternative Medicine
Here is an interesting website with loads of information. You will find all kinds of facts and advice and getting and staying healthy. If you have ever considered or used herbal remedies, take a look at the Herbal Side Effects page.
http://www.personalhealthzone.com
Computer Games
If you like computer games, here is a website just for you. Click on any of the squares for a different game to play.
http://www.orisinal.com/games/bubble.htm
Memorial Day
Find history, speeches, links to e-cards and more at this site:
http://www.usmemorialday.org
The History Channel website presents historical facts about the holiday and Americas wars.
http://www.historychannel.com/memorial.html
For the kids: learn more about Memorial Day at the Kid’s Domain website. This site features games, crafts and links to other sites of interest to children.
http://www.kidsdomain.com/kids/links/Salute_to_Veterans.html
What to do this weekend? Check out Digital City for things to do and places to go in your area.
http://www.digitalcity.com |
