|
Welcome to today's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, July 14, 2002
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Organize Favorites in Internet Explorer
Special Feature: Store America Online Password
Featured Computer Term: Plug And Play
This Week's Topic: Error Messages and Explanations
Question: Shut Down Vs. Stand By
Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Margins
Featured Website: Lyme Disease Awareness Week; Within These Walls; Timelines Of History; JobStar Central Resumes Page; July is National Blueberry Month
***********************************************************************
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.
***********************************************************************
Special Feature: Organize Favorites in Internet Explorer
The following question is from a newsletter subscriber:
I’ve added a lot of websites to my favorites in Internet Explorer. Is there a way to organize them to make them a little easier to find?
Answer
You can drag and drop to quickly rearrange the order of your favorites list with the Favorites Explorer bar.
To open the Favorites Explorer bar click the Favorites button on the IE toolbar and go to Arrange Favorites. The Explorer bar will open in a separate pane inside your IE browser window. Now you can move a folder or items within a folder by just dragging and dropping. To see favorites stored inside any folder, just click a folder's icon and a list for the folder's content drops down. To move a favorite on your list into a folder or to a new position in its folder, drag its icon up or down the Explorer bar to the new location. You'll notice a heavy horizontal line as you drag. This shows you where the favorite would be inserted when you release the mouse button.
***********************************************************************
Special Feature: Store America Online Password
The following question is from a newsletter subscriber:
Thanks for the article on removing the password from my computer. I was never able to get help with that and thought I was the only one who had that problem. Is there a way to eliminate my America Online password?
Answer:
You can’t eliminate the password but you can save it so that you don't have to type it in every time you go online.
You should only use this option if you're sure that no one else will have access to your computer. If it’s possible that your computer will be used by anyone else, you’re better off entering your password so that no one can use your AOL account.
1. Open the Preferences window. There are several ways to do this: Depending on your version of AOL, on the My AOL menu or the Settings menu, click Preferences. or Click the Keyword Button, type Preferences and click Go. The Preferences window will appear.
2. Click Passwords.
3. Type your password in box next to your screen name.
4. Click OK.
The password will be stored.
***********************************************************************
Today's Computer Term: Plug And Play
Plug And Play is a term that was developed by Microsoft.
PnP allows you to plug in a peripheral and have the PC or Operating System automatically recognize it. In other words, you don't have to tell the computer that you've just added a new piece of hardware. And you don’t have to turn the computer off and back on again for it to recognize that a new piece of hardware was plugged into it.
***********************************************************************
Today's Topic: Error Messages and Explanations
Error messages can be very intimidating. You’re working on something, minding your own business and all of a sudden, an error message pops up.
These messages will be less nerve wracking if you have an idea of what the cryptic message means.
Error messages are not always displayed because of a mistake you made; in fact, most times it’s the computer’s fault.
Following are some of the more common error messages, explanations and remedies:
Invalid Page Fault.
This occurs when the operating system (Windows) fails to actually access information (data) that was requested by one of your programs. It's as if the system simply went to sleep on the job.
Remedy: Close the program that caused the error. Wait a moment and open the program again.
Fatal Exception Error.
This happens when a program or the system itself tries to work with bad data, such as a corrupt file. Files get corrupted if everything isn’t just so. Everything has to be absolutely precise, or Fatal Exception.
Remedy: Close the application. Sometimes it's Windows so close all open programs and shut the computer down and restart.
General Protection Fault (GPF).
Your computer has to have enough resources to support everything going on inside. If it runs low, or resources leak into space, you may see a GPF. This may also happen if two applications try to use the same memory location, like two cars attempting the same parking spot.
Remedy: Restart your computer. The memory is cleared. And you continue on down the road.
Runtime Error.
These occur while applications are running. The only way to cure them is to restart the application.
***********************************************************************
Question: Shut Down Vs. Hibernate
The following question is from a newsletter subscriber:
I've been receiving your newsletter for some time and it's great! My question is this: when I’m done with my computer for the day should I shut it down or put it into hibernate?
I am using Windows98 and the manual that came with the computer says to not use the on button to turn the computer off. I'm a little confused. Thanks for all the wonderful tips!
Answer:
Hibernate, or Stand By, depending on your Windows version, means that the computer is still on but in sleep mode.
You should always shut down (turn off) the computer at the end of the day. There are several reasons for this:
First, some systems have a hard time coming out of hibernation. The only way to recover from that situation is to use the on button to turn the computer off and then back on again. This is worse for your computer than turning it off the correct way would have been.
Second, the computer does not re-boot when going into hibernation. When you re-boot, you clear out the memory and load Windows and all programs again. This helps your computer run better.
Third, your computer generates quite a bit of heat. It’s a good idea to turn it off over night so it gets a chance to really cool down.
***********************************************************************
Progressive Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Margins
When you first start Word, certain assumptions are made about your page layout. One of these assumptions has to do with your page margins. You can change your page margins at any time by following these steps:
1. Choose the Page Setup option from the File menu. Word displays the Page Setup dialog box. 2. Make sure the Margins tab is selected. 3. Adjust the top, bottom, left, and right margins as desired. 4. Make sure the Apply To drop-down list is set to Whole Document. 5. Click on OK.
For a graphical explanation of Margins, click on the following link: http://stsico.com/html/word8.html
***********************************************************************
Today's Featured Websites:
This week is Lyme Disease Awareness Week.
Read about health and safety tips from the American Red Cross. http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/july/julytips.html
Within These Walls
The National Museum of American History presents the history of a 250-year-old house and 5 of the families that have occupied it over the past 200 years. Built in the mid-1760s, the Ipswich, Massachussetts, house's diverse inhabitants have included colonists (1757-1772), revolutionaries (1777-1789), reformers (1836-1865), and immigrants (1870-1890). The actual house was moved from Massachusetts and now resides on the Smithsonian second floor. If you can't make it to Washington, D.C., this site allows you to experience the great changes and events of the nation's past through the eyes of these families.
http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/house/
Timelines Of History
Whether you're a fan of the fascinating stories that come from history, or you have a paper to write for a history class, the Timelines of History site is a place you'll want to bookmark.
http://www.timelines.ws/
JobStar Central Resumes Page
If you're in the market for a new job and you aren't sure if your resume is adequate, check out the JobStar Central resumes page. Here you'll find everything from resume samples and resource pages to sample cover letters.
http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/
July is National Blueberry Month.
From the Wild Blueberry Association of North America's website, you'll get information about the health benefit of blueberries, some recipes and more.
http://www.wildblueberries.com/
|
