HINTS, TIPS and TRICKS

This section contains helpful hints, tips, and tricks for the operation of a Microsoft's Windows PC.

Use the Micro Members help listing available from the MICRO newsletter or in the Resource Archives on this site. Try the web site for Windows annoyances...  http://www.Annoyances.org In Microsoft's Internet Explorer 6 and above, to get more viewing area press F11. This will auto-hide the bar at the top. Then if you see a thumb tack click it. The web site or page you requested did NOT come up! Try clicking the REFRESH or RELOAD button/icon on your browser's toolbar. See a graphic on your screen that you want, but you don't have any software to grab it. You have Windows don't you? Try this little trick. While the item is on the screen press and hold down ALT then tap PRINT SCREEN on your keyboard, now release the Alt key. This places the current window in the copy buffer. Now open Paint and click EDIT then PASTE. The current window is now in Paint. Click on the pencil tool then click on the select tool. This de-select's the whole item and gets ready to select what you want. Move the mouse pointer to the upper left of the item you want. Click and hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the lower right until the item is surrounded, then release the mouse button. Click EDIT then COPY. Now Click FILE then NEW and answer NO to the save question. Click EDIT then PASTE. Last, click FILE then SAVE AS, type the name you want to save the graphic as and click SAVE. You're done. You just copied, cut, and pasted your target item. NOTE: This method does not copy animation. Q. Why is 1k, kilobyte (meaning Thousand), equal 1,024 bytes instead of 1,000? A. It has to do with the way computers store and refer to data in binary terms, as off or on, zero or 1. Starting with 1 and doubling the number to obtain the next. For example, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, then 1024 and so forth. EXCEL - MERGE CELL DEMO Thinking of upgrading to Microsoft's Vista? Check out the MINIMUM requirements from Microsoft. Hardware Requirements:    * 1.6-GHz or faster processor minimum    * 1 GB of RAM minimum    * 256 Mb 3D Video card minimum    * 1 GB of available hard-disk space required    * 10/100 Mbps network adapter required    * DVD ROM Drive required (The software comes on a DVD) Do you get eye strain trying to find the flashing cursor in or on a page of text? We have an easy fix for you. Open CONTROL PANEL and click on ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS. When the dialog box opens click the DISPLAY tab. Towards the bottom, click on the cursor width slider and move it to the right just a little. Notice the flashing sample just above and to the left. Once you have the width that you think will work for you click OK. Now open WORD and see if the little flashy bar is big enough to find. Notice that you can also change the flash speed. Command Shorthand: START/CONTROL PANEL/ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS/DISPLAY (tab)/CURSOR OPTIONS/move width slider to the right/OK Are you using Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7? If so don't forget to hold down the "Ctrl" key when you click on a link. This will cause a new tab to open instead of a whole new window. 4 Ways to Speed Up Your Computer's Performance from Microsoft. If your Xp system is slowing down, here's how to get it back to speed.

Do you have a tip or trick you want to share? If so email the Micro Tip Box with your tip or trick.

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Windows Xp Desktop/Taskbar Control

I have seen so many HELP request dealing with the desktop and the taskbar that I wrote this web page to save time. I'm not complaining, I just wanted to make this easier.

BIG JOHN (BJ)

Click a button to view topic listed in the button.

1. DESKTOP ICONS DISAPPEARED
2. TASKBAR DISAPPEARED
3. TASKBAR STILL NOT VISIBLE

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DESKTOP ICONS DISAPPEARED

If your desktop icons have disappeared, do the following...

1. Right click on the open desktop.

2. Now move the cursor to "Arrange Icons By".

3. Click "Show Desktop Icons".

DESKTOP DIALOG BOX TOP

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TASKBAR DISAPPEARED

If your TASKBAR has disappeared, do the following...

1. Press the "Windows key" on the keyboard. Normally next to the "Alt key", should have a Windows logo on it. The "TASKBAR" should appear. If just the start menu shows, see "TASKBAR STILL NOT VISIBLE" below.

2. Now move the cursor to the side of the screen where the TASKBAR appeared. It should re-appear.

3. Right click on an open area of the TASKBAR. A dialog box should appear.

4. Click on "PROPERTIES". The properties dialog box should appear.

5. Click the box in front of "Auto-hide the taskbar", and click 'OK'. The TASKBAR should now be back on the desktop.

TASKBAR PROPERTIES DIALOG BOX TOP

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TASKBAR STILL NOT VISIBLE

If just the start menu shows when you press the Windows key, do the following...

1. Move the cursor to the side of the screen where the start menu appeared. The cursor should change into a double arrow. You should only see half of the arrow as the rest is off screen.

2. Click and hold down the left mouse button and drag the cursor toward the center of the screen. Release the mouse button when the size of the taskbar is acceptable.

3. Now right click on the taskbar. A dialog box will open.

4. Click on "Lock the Taskbar". This keeps any size changes from happening.

TASKBAR DIALOG BOX TOP