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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, September 7, 2003
Today is National Grandparent's Day. To all the Grandmas and Grandpas
reading this, enjoy your day!
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Error Messages and Explanations
Featured Computer Term: Freeze
Tips and Tricks: When The Mouse Freezes
This Week's Topic: What to Do When Your Computer Freezes
Question: Save Email To Disk
Websites of Interest: National Grandparent’s Day; Cholesterol Education
Month; Yoga Basics; Test Your Reflexes
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Special Feature: Error Messages and Explanations
Error messages can be very intimidating but 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 is 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 is not 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.
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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@c... 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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Today's Computer Term: Freeze
A freeze is an error that can appear on computers running in a Windows' environment. This includes even the earliest versions of Windows such as Windows
3.0 and 3.1, and still occurs in later versions such as Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 and ME.
A freeze usually causes the computer to stop working and accept no commands from the user.
Jokingly called the blue screen of death because when the error occurs, the screen sometimes turns blue, and the computer almost always freezes and requires rebooting.
Is there a computer term or phrase that you'd like to see an explanation of? Email it to info@c... and we'll put the term and its definition in an upcoming newsletter.
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Tips and Tricks: When The Mouse Freezes
Occasionally (especially if you're using Windows ME), the mouse will freeze up. Since it's always better to use the Shutdown command instead of just pushing the on button, the first step would be to try to give commands with the keyboard.
You can use your keyboard to access the start menu when the mouse fails. Notice the button on the bottom left of the keyboard with the Windows logo on it (it's usually between the ctrl key and the alt key). Press that and the Start menu opens. From there you can use the arrow keys (on the right side of the keyboard) to move up to Shut Down; press the Enter key on Shutdown and then press Enter again for OK (or yes, depending on Windows version).
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Today's Topic: What to Do When Your Computer Freezes
Question: Occasionally my computer will freeze up on me. I pull the plug out but someone told me that this is not a good thing to do. What should I do?
Answer: When your computer freezes, instead of pulling the plug (which you’re right, is not a great thing to do), try this:
With your left hand, hold down the Alt key and the Ctrl key (you'll find these on your keyboard). With your right hand, press and release the delete key, then release the alt and ctrl keys.
You’ll see a window appear in the middle of the screen listing the programs that you have currently open. One or more of these will say Program Not Responding -this is what’s causing the freeze. Click on that program name, and then click the button below that says End Program. That should get your computer back up and working. It’s always a good idea to then shut it down the right way, wait a couple of minutes and turn it back on.
On the rare occasion that the Alt Ctrl Del doesn't work, hold down the on button for 5 seconds -- that will turn the computer off without unplugging it; then turn it back on after a couple of moments.
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Question: Save Email To Disk
Question: How do I save an email to a floppy disk? I would like to save my emails, and I can't figure out a way.
Answer: Saving an e-mail to a floppy disk is a good idea. Since you do not mention what program you use for your email, lets take a look at Microsoft Outlook and Netscape Navigator. In other programs, the steps are similar.
If you are using America Online or Outlook:
1. While viewing the e-mail that you want to save, click on File and Save As. You will get the Save Message dialog box. 2. In the Save in field, click the drop down list, and select 3 ½ floppy A: 3. Under File name, type a name for the e-mail message 4. In the Save as type field, you can either save it as an e-mail message, or as a text file. Text files take up less space and can be read in any text program. 5. Now click Save and you are all done!
If you are using Netscape Mail:
1. While viewing the e-mail that you want to save, click on File go to Save As and then click on File in the sub-menu. 2. In the Save in field, click the drop down list, and select 3 ½ floppy A: 3. Under File name, type a name for the e-mail message 4. In the Save as type field your choices are text or HTML. Text files take up less space. 5. Now click Save and you are all done!
Other e-mail programs work in similar ways.
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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 Link for AOL Members: Classes
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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@c... with the words Subscribe to Newsletter in the subject line of the email.
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Websites of Interest
Today is National Grandparent’s Day. Read more about this observation at this website: http://www.grandparents-day.com/ Link for AOL Members: National Grandparents Day Home Page
September is Cholesterol Education Month. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has a great website to visit where you will learn about controlling cholesterol, diets, recipes and much more. http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/cholmonth/ Link for AOL Members: 2003 National Cholesterol Education Month Kit
Yoga Basics With yoga you can become stronger, lose weight, become more flexible and learn to relax. Visit this website for the basics and much more. http://www.yogabasics.com/ Link for AOL Members: Yoga Basics: online guide to the practice of yoga, pranayama, postures, poses, asana, breathing, meditation
Test Your Reflexes Here’s a fun site -how are your reflexes? Take a timed test to see how fast they really are. http://omega.med.yale.edu/~pcy5/ Link for AOL Members: The Reflex Tester by Jasper van Zandbeek
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