PCW200603-132
Dear Computer Therapist: Sometimes I am working on more than one application
at a time. I'll have a spreadsheet program open. I'll also have a photo editing
program open. When I want to get to the Desktop, I have to click the Minimize button
on each of the open programs to finally reveal the Desktop. Is there an easy way to
show the Desktop?
- Show Me The Desktop
Dear Show Me: If you own a keyboard which contains a 'Windows Key', press and
hold that key while pressing the 'D' key. This technique automatically minimizes all
open applications and shows the Desktop. To return to the open applications
repeat the process.
**Dear Readers: If you don't own a keyboard with a 'Windows' key, then you can find
the 'Show Desktop' shortcut on the 'Quick Launch Toolbar' which resides on the
'Windows Taskbar'. To display the 'Quick Launch Toolbar', right-click an empty
space on the Windows Taskbar (this is the area at the bottom of your screen to the
right of the Start button) ► Toolbars ► make sure 'Quick Launch' is checked ► if
not, click 'Quick Launch' to select it. If you don't see the ''Show Desktop' link you will
need to create it. First open Notepad (Start ► Programs ► Accessories ►
Notepad) ► on the 1st line type: [Shell] ► on the 2nd line type: Command=2 ► on
the 3rd line type: IconFile=explorer.exe,3 ► on the 4th line type: [Taskbar] ► on the
last line type: Command=ToggleDesktop ► save the file in the directory:
C:\WINDOWS\APPLICATION DATA\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\QUICK
LAUNCH ► name the file: 'Show Desktop.scf''. Now the 'Show Desktop' shortcut
should appear on the Quick Launch Toolbar enabling one-click access to your
Desktop.
--------------------------------------------------
PCW200603-139
Dear Computer Therapist: It would be so nice to wake up in the morning and have
my computer automatically turned on with the program that I use most recently up
and running. Will there ever be a system in the future that can do this?
- Hate To Wait
Dear Wait: The future is now. But for this feature to work your computer must not be
powered down. It must be placed into Standby Mode or Hibernate Mode either
manually or automatically. (By the way, Hibernate Mode is nearly identical to
powering the system off as far as energy consumption goes). To automatically have
your computer enter Standby Mode after a specified time: Start ► Control Panel ►
Power Schemes tab ► set 'System Stand By' to a specified time when you want the
PC to automatically enter Standby Mode ► OK. To automatically have your computer
enter Hibernate Mode after a specified time: Start ► Control Panel ► Power
Schemes tab ► set 'System Hibernates' to a specified time for the PC to
automatically enter Hibernate Mode ► Hibernate tab ► Enable Hibernate Support
► OK. The next step is to set the computer to wake up from Standby Mode or
Hibernate Mode with the program you want to work on in the morning open and
ready for use. Click Start ► Programs ► Accessories ► System Tools ►
Scheduled Tasks ► double-click 'Add Scheduled Task' ► Next ► choose the
program that you want have open ►Next ► select 'Daily' ► Next ► select the time
you want the computer to start up and run the program ► Next ► put a checkmark
next to 'Open Advanced Properties For This Task When I Click Finish' ► Settings
tab ► put a checkmark next to 'Wake The Computer To Run This Task' ► OK.
You're done. Now your computer will be waiting for you to get coffee and start work.
--------------------------------------------------
SMC200603-065
Dear Computer Therapist: I recently installed a new photo-editing software
package on my computer. After a couple of days my computer began acting up. I
uninstalled the guilty application but the PC is still slow. Any suggestions?
-New And Unimproved
Dear Unimproved: Hopefully your machine had the 'System Restore' feature turned
on (on the Desktop right-click 'My Computer' ► Properties ► Performance tab ►
under 'Advanced Settings' ► File System ► Troubleshooting tab ► make sure
there is no checkmark next to 'Disable System Restore' ► OK.). If you were lucky
and 'System Restore' had been active, you can return your system to an earlier point
in time before things got chaotic. Click the Start button ► Programs ► Accessories
► System Tools ► System Restore ► select 'Restore My Computer To An Earlier
Time' ► Next button ► choose a date from the calendar that was before you
installed the finicky program ► Next. Soon your computer will be taken back to a
happier time in its life.
--------------------------------------------------
SMC200605-037
Dear Computer Therapist: I'm considering buying a software program. But I'm
uncertain if my computer meets the memory requirement stated on the software
package. Is there a way to determine the amount of memory that's installed on my
PC?
-Memory Loss
Dear Memory: Here's the quick way. Press the Windows Logo key on your keyboard
together with the Pause/Break key. You will see the amount of memory installed on
the 'System Properties' dialog box. Here's the more involved method which provides
more detailed system information. Start button ► Programs ► Accessories ►
System Tools ► System Information. Look for a listing 'Total Physical Memory'.
--------------------------------------------------
Dear Computer Therapist: How do I permanently remove a file or icon from my
computer without it going to the Recycle Bin?
- Goodbye Forever
Dear Goodbye: Right-click the file, icon, folder, or any other item ► press and hold
down the SHIFT key while you select ‘Delete’ from the menu ► confirm the deletion
request.
Dear Computer Therapist: Sometimes I am working on more than one application
at a time. I'll have a spreadsheet program open. I'll also have a photo editing
program open. When I want to get to the Desktop, I have to click the Minimize button
on each of the open programs to finally reveal the Desktop. Is there an easy way to
show the Desktop?
- Show Me The Desktop
Dear Show Me: If you own a keyboard which contains a 'Windows Key', press and
hold that key while pressing the 'D' key. This technique automatically minimizes all
open applications and shows the Desktop. To return to the open applications
repeat the process.
**Dear Readers: If you don't own a keyboard with a 'Windows' key, then you can find
the 'Show Desktop' shortcut on the 'Quick Launch Toolbar' which resides on the
'Windows Taskbar'. To display the 'Quick Launch Toolbar', right-click an empty
space on the Windows Taskbar (this is the area at the bottom of your screen to the
right of the Start button) ► Toolbars ► make sure 'Quick Launch' is checked ► if
not, click 'Quick Launch' to select it. If you don't see the ''Show Desktop' link you will
need to create it. First open Notepad (Start ► Programs ► Accessories ►
Notepad) ► on the 1st line type: [Shell] ► on the 2nd line type: Command=2 ► on
the 3rd line type: IconFile=explorer.exe,3 ► on the 4th line type: [Taskbar] ► on the
last line type: Command=ToggleDesktop ► save the file in the directory:
C:\WINDOWS\APPLICATION DATA\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\QUICK
LAUNCH ► name the file: 'Show Desktop.scf''. Now the 'Show Desktop' shortcut
should appear on the Quick Launch Toolbar enabling one-click access to your
Desktop.
--------------------------------------------------
PCW200603-139
Dear Computer Therapist: It would be so nice to wake up in the morning and have
my computer automatically turned on with the program that I use most recently up
and running. Will there ever be a system in the future that can do this?
- Hate To Wait
Dear Wait: The future is now. But for this feature to work your computer must not be
powered down. It must be placed into Standby Mode or Hibernate Mode either
manually or automatically. (By the way, Hibernate Mode is nearly identical to
powering the system off as far as energy consumption goes). To automatically have
your computer enter Standby Mode after a specified time: Start ► Control Panel ►
Power Schemes tab ► set 'System Stand By' to a specified time when you want the
PC to automatically enter Standby Mode ► OK. To automatically have your computer
enter Hibernate Mode after a specified time: Start ► Control Panel ► Power
Schemes tab ► set 'System Hibernates' to a specified time for the PC to
automatically enter Hibernate Mode ► Hibernate tab ► Enable Hibernate Support
► OK. The next step is to set the computer to wake up from Standby Mode or
Hibernate Mode with the program you want to work on in the morning open and
ready for use. Click Start ► Programs ► Accessories ► System Tools ►
Scheduled Tasks ► double-click 'Add Scheduled Task' ► Next ► choose the
program that you want have open ►Next ► select 'Daily' ► Next ► select the time
you want the computer to start up and run the program ► Next ► put a checkmark
next to 'Open Advanced Properties For This Task When I Click Finish' ► Settings
tab ► put a checkmark next to 'Wake The Computer To Run This Task' ► OK.
You're done. Now your computer will be waiting for you to get coffee and start work.
--------------------------------------------------
SMC200603-065
Dear Computer Therapist: I recently installed a new photo-editing software
package on my computer. After a couple of days my computer began acting up. I
uninstalled the guilty application but the PC is still slow. Any suggestions?
-New And Unimproved
Dear Unimproved: Hopefully your machine had the 'System Restore' feature turned
on (on the Desktop right-click 'My Computer' ► Properties ► Performance tab ►
under 'Advanced Settings' ► File System ► Troubleshooting tab ► make sure
there is no checkmark next to 'Disable System Restore' ► OK.). If you were lucky
and 'System Restore' had been active, you can return your system to an earlier point
in time before things got chaotic. Click the Start button ► Programs ► Accessories
► System Tools ► System Restore ► select 'Restore My Computer To An Earlier
Time' ► Next button ► choose a date from the calendar that was before you
installed the finicky program ► Next. Soon your computer will be taken back to a
happier time in its life.
--------------------------------------------------
SMC200605-037
Dear Computer Therapist: I'm considering buying a software program. But I'm
uncertain if my computer meets the memory requirement stated on the software
package. Is there a way to determine the amount of memory that's installed on my
PC?
-Memory Loss
Dear Memory: Here's the quick way. Press the Windows Logo key on your keyboard
together with the Pause/Break key. You will see the amount of memory installed on
the 'System Properties' dialog box. Here's the more involved method which provides
more detailed system information. Start button ► Programs ► Accessories ►
System Tools ► System Information. Look for a listing 'Total Physical Memory'.
--------------------------------------------------
Dear Computer Therapist: How do I permanently remove a file or icon from my
computer without it going to the Recycle Bin?
- Goodbye Forever
Dear Goodbye: Right-click the file, icon, folder, or any other item ► press and hold
down the SHIFT key while you select ‘Delete’ from the menu ► confirm the deletion
request.
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