Tech Tips
Tech Links and Information
04/05/2010
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Do you wish to bypass the Domesticate Your Mouse prerequisite for registering for computer classes? Take this online mousing test or call the Technology Center at 588-5024 x232 to schedule a brief test of your mousing skills.
System Restore in Windows 7®
08/12/2010
Recover from spyware and Windows 7® Errors
Windows 7® has many great features, but System Restore is one of the few genuine lifesavers.
It's a tool that you'll hopefully never have to use, but as with all system maintenance, it's always worth making sure that you're ready in the event of having to call on it.
Its job is to keep notes of everything you change on your computer, enabling you to reverse them with a couple of clicks. Times you might need to use it include clearing up a bit of spyware that managed to sneak its way on to your system, error messages suddenly appearing after installing a new tool, or a critical error developing.
System Restore is switched on by default when you install Windows 7®, although it's always worth double checking. Type 'restore' into your Start menu (not pressing Return) and you'll see the three key options - opening System Restore, and shortcuts to creating and restoring from a Restore Point.
Windows 7® creates these automatically, once a week or just before you install new software, but you're not bound to this schedule - you can create your own Restore Points whenever you like. For the most part, though, this isn't necessary.
Changes, changes
The most important thing to remember about System Restore is that it isn't a file backup tool - it's a system backup tool, and there's a critical difference.
System Restore's job is to look out for Windows files; the programs that you install; registry settings that get changed; and other behind-the-scenes elements - not your documents.
The advantage of this is that in the event of a disaster, you can get your system up and running without needing to worry about anything you created post-Restore Point being wiped away. The downside is that there's not much that it can do if your problem is a deleted file or corrupted photograph.
Windows 7® does add one useful feature, however. Along with system data, Restore Points track any changes to files and folders, enabling you to go back to previous versions.
RESTORE POINT: The best time to make a System Restore point is when you've just installed/reinstalled Windows 7® and your drivers, and everything's working as it should. Right-click on any file or folder, choose 'Restore previous versions' and you will see the list. This is fantastic for documents with a long lifespan, but it doesn't help you if you only need to rewind time by an hour or so.
System security
What can help is that System Restore works hand-in-hand with Windows Backup, although this isn't switched on by default. You'll find the option to use it in System and Security in your Control Panel.
This provides extra previous version support, with its saved copies accessed from the same place as the System Restore ones mentioned earlier; file backups that enable you to retrieve individual documents; and most dramatically, full system images.
A system image is a complete copy of your hard disc - Windows, system settings, your documents, your files, even your wallpaper settings - that can simply be dropped back on to the drive after a crash, ready to use as though nothing ever happened.
Control Your Windows Media Player from the Taskbar
08/03/2010
I enjoy playing music on my computer while I work. The Windows Media Player gives me the functionality I want and the ease of access that keeps it from interfering with my work. Key to that easy access is the ability to control the player from the taskbar at the bottom of the desktop.
Windows versions XP and higher have the ability to place a mini-player interface on that taskbar. You can control the play functions from right there. To activate the taskbar media player tool, right-click a blank space on the taskbar and a menu will pop open. From that menu, mouse-over "Toolbars" and another popup will display. If you click on "Windows Media Player," that will place a check mark on that toolbar and activate the function.
To dock the media player on the taskbar, open the media player as usual, start your playlist, then minimize the player. You will see it nestle itself down on the taskbar, ready to use.
Defrag Your Hard Drive in Windows XP
07/20/2010
I hate newspaper articles that start on the front page but continue somewhere in the middle of the newspaper. I could get through the article much faster if it was printed on consecutive pages like a magazine article. Files on your computer can either be fragmented like a newspaper, or unfragmented like a magazine. Over time, more and more files become fragmented. When a file is fragmented, it takes longer for the computer to read it because it has to skip to different sections of the hard disk—just like it takes me a few seconds to find a page in the middle of a newspaper. Figure 3 compares how a computer reads unfragmented and fragmented files.
You need administrator privileges to defragment a drive or volume.
Although fragmentation is complicated, it's easy to defragment your computer by following these steps:
- Open My Computer, right-click Local Disk, and then click Properties.
- On the Tools tab, click Defragment Now. The Disk Defragmenter opens.
- Click your first hard disk, and then click Defragment. As shown in Figure 4, Disk Defragmenter will work for at least several minutes, though it may take several hours.
- If you have more than one hard disk, repeat this process for each hard disk listed starting at Step 3.
My laptop's files were not terribly fragmented, so defragmenting them didn't speed it up much. However, after defragmenting the hard drive on my desktop computer, Windows and other programs started about 20% faster!
Follow this link to read the entire article on restoring your Windows XP performance by Tony Northrup, Windows XP Expert Zone Community Columnist
Suffolk Wave - Your Free eAudiobook Download Source
04/19/2010
eAudiobooks are downloadable titles that you can play on your home computer or transfer to your MP3 player. Suffolk Wave is one of the free eAudiobook download services provided to patrons by the Sachem Public Library. To take books on the go, or simply listen from the comfort of your own home, visit http://www.suffolkwave.org. All you need is your valid Sachem Public Library card and you are set to start downloading books, music and even videos! It's sure to become one of your favorite web destinations. Now! iPod compatible MP3s are available for download for those Apple users among us. Take a look, you will be happy you did.
Opening Microsoft 2007 Files in Older Versions of the Office Suite
04/02/2010
If you’re still running along just fine on versions of Excel from Office 2000, Office XP or Office 2003, you can update your software just enough to enable it to open Excel 2007 files.
A 28-megabyte Microsoft file called the Office Compatibility Pack lets people with older versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint open files created in Office 2007’s newer Open XML file format. The software is free at http://bit.ly/10IhvN, but read the overview carefully.
Microsoft recommends having certain high-priority updates installed on the computer before installing the Compatibility Pack. You can find detailed instructions for installing and using the software at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/924074.
People using older Mac versions of Microsoft Office can find a free Open XML converter at http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.mspx.
(NY Times, June 3, 2009)
Home Printing Disaster? Try Print @ Library!
02/04/2010
Now you can print your documents on our printer. If you can go online, you can print your documents to a printer in the Library's Technology Center. Whether you have run out of ink or toner, had a paper jam you just can't clear or simply want the clarity of a laser printout, we can help.
From the Library’s Home or Adult Page click on "For Your Convenience" and then choose the "Print @ Library" link. Follow the directions to send your document to our printer, and then come in to release your print job and pick up your printouts. You must come to pick up your printouts at least 15 minutes before closing. If you happen to be printing a large number of pages (over 30), you will want to come earlier in order to allow time for the job to print and be verified. Printouts are $.25 per page, black and white or color. Speak with one of our helpful Technology Center staff members for more information.
Information Security - One Important Rule (plus a few tips)
02/02/2010
Just about everyone who uses the Internet is concerned with the ever-increasing number of attacks on the security of their personal information. Inventive criminals seem to continually find new ways to hack in or fool people into giving away information that should be kept secret. Don't panic, common sense can be your biggest ally in the battle against information (and perhaps identity) theft.
The number one, rock-solid, never to be ignored rule is this, "No reputable company will ask for things like usernames, passwords and bank account information to be sent by email". In fact, very few companies will send a link that asks you to fill in any information on the Internet. Companies you deal with have other ways of contacting you and would use them before resorting to email. They will tell you to contact them, and may give you the option of visiting their website, but there are some warning signs you should look for in any case.
Warning signs
A real company will not contact you by email. If you do get an email that appears to be from a legitimate source, here are ways to tell it is a forgery or a phishing attempt.
- The email will be addressed "Dear Customer" or "Greetings", not to your real name.
- They will ask you to fill in an online form immediately before giving the option to contact them by phone.
- The spelling and grammar used in the letter will be incorrect. Misspellings are often a sign of a hoax or phishing scam. (For an interesting lesson, you may want to search for the word "phishing" in a web search like Google, Yahoo or Bing.)
- The web address linked in the message will look SIMILAR, yet different from the company's web address. At times the difference will be as little as ONE LETTER (i.e. www.microsft.com instead of www.microsoft.com), but the misspelled address will be registered to an unknown individual out to get your information.
- No matter what, your first move when investigating a "problem with your account" should be to telephone the company and find out if there is a problem to begin with. If so, they will tell you how to proceed.
- DO NOT trust the contact information given in an unsolicited email. Look it up yourself and go from there.
Common sense and vigilance are the best defenses to the ongoing attacks on your personal information. Be smart, be aware and don't become a victim of identity theft.
Keep Your Computer Updated
01/15/2010
It is easy to improve the security and reliability of your PC, and take advantage of the continuous improvements Microsoft makes to Windows. Just use this four-step process:
1. Turn on Windows Update. You probably did this when you set up your new PC by selecting the option to “Help protect Windows automatically.”
2. Use the recommended settings. Windows Update is designed to work automatically and not interrupt you while you’re working on other things. Using the recommended settings, you get all of the benefits from the service, such as quick delivery of very important security updates, and you get them with fewer interruptions.
3. Turn on Microsoft Update. Microsoft Update includes updates for both Windows and other Microsoft products. This makes it easy to keep all your Microsoft software updated. To turn on Microsoft Update, go to http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate.
4. Check Windows Update periodically. You will find a list of lower priority recommended and optional updates that you can choose to download and install. These include driver updates, new product features, and so forth. These updates will keep your PC functioning smoothly.
Document and Image Scanning in the Technology Center
11/20/2009
One of the services we provide to our users in the Technology Center is image scanning. If you have an old photo you would like to save, print and share, our helpful Technology Center staff will scan documents onto your storage device for only $.50 per scan. Paper documents can be scanned to attach to emailed resumés or store for future use. Bring your USB flash drive to store the image or buy a reasonably priced flash drive in the Technology Center. Floppy diskettes are not suggested due to the limited space available on diskettes and their fragile nature. Speak with one of our helpful Technology Center staff members to find out how.
Tech30 - Tech help in 30 minutes or less, by appointment only.
10/15/2009
Is there a particular website that you just can't seem to figure out? Do you have a problem with your email or with using a Microsoft Office product like Word, Excel, Publisher or PowerPoint? If you have a specific computer-related question that has been troubling you, then you might benefit from a 30 minute, one-on-one tech session.
A Tech30 session is an individualized session with a member of our Electronic Services staff. These sessions are designed to address a specific technical issue you may have, not as a class on using a particular application. If you should need an introduction to any of the Microsoft Office applications, please visit the library's online program calendar to view our upcoming workshops.
Download, fill in and mail this form to "Technology Center" at the library address.