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  Web http://www.klippert.com



  Sunday, January 31, 2010 – Permalink –

Context Clutter

Registry mop


When you Right-click the desktop, a “Context” menu appears. Some programs like to sneak in and add shortcuts to their very important applications.
If your context menu has been cluttered up, here are some instructions and tips to clean it up.


HowToGeek.com




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:18 AM

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  Monday, November 09, 2009 – Permalink –

Wipe it Clean

Works, but dangerous


"Cipher.exe is a command-line tool. Microsoft has developed an improved version of the Cipher.exe tool that provides the ability to permanently overwrite (or "wipe") all of the deleted data on a hard disk.
This feature improves security by ensuring that even an attacker who gained complete physical control of a Windows computer would be unable to recover previously-deleted data."

Support.microsoft.com:
Cipher.exe Security Tool

Using cipher.exe

File Shredder

Permanently delete data from your hard drive




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:50 AM

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  Saturday, August 22, 2009 – Permalink –

Self Help

Get started in the right direction


The Office of Technology Services of Towson University, located in Towson, Md., provides Self-Help Training Documents for many applications.

They are available for many levels of knowledge. They’re clean, clear, and concise.
  • Access

  • Adobe Acrobat

  • Dreamweaver

  • Excel

  • FrontPage

  • Microsoft Office Tools

  • Outlook

  • Outlook Web Access

  • PowerPoint

  • Publisher

  • Visio

  • Windows

  • Word Art

  • Word
Tech Docs




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:08 AM

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  Friday, March 20, 2009 – Permalink –

It's Your Icon Too

Brand your own Explorer


Developers may consider it heretical, but the icon that appears in the upper right corner of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express can be changed.

You can use your own static logo and/or an animated one.

All it takes is MSPaint and Regedit.

For directions see: Winguides.com




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:56 AM

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  Saturday, March 07, 2009 – Permalink –

Control Panel

Be empowered


"Control Panel provides a set of special-purpose administrative tools so that users can configure the Windows, applications, and services environment. It includes default items in Control Panel for common tasks, for example, Display and Add Hardware. User-installed applications and services can also insert their own icons into Control Panel.

There are two view options for Control Panel: Category View and Classic View.

Category View displays Control Panel icons according to the type of task that the user wants to perform.

Classic View displays Control Panel icons in a view that is familiar to users of previous versions of Windows."


  1. Click Start, and then Settings

  2. Click Control Panel.

  3. Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.

  4. Open Folder Options.

  5. Under Tasks, click "Show common tasks in folders", and then click OK.

  6. In the Control Panel box in the upper-left corner of Control Panel, click "Switch to Category" or "Switch to Classic View".
Go to View and choose how you want the contents to be displayed. "Icons" is the Classic view, but details will show the purpose of each entry. For more information about Control Panel icons, see:
  • Accessibility Options
  • Add Hardware
  • Add or Remove Programs
  • Administrative Tools
  • Date and Time
  • Display
  • Folder Options
  • Fonts
  • Game Controllers
  • Internet Options
  • Keyboard
  • Licensing
  • Mouse
  • Network Connections
  • Phone and Modem Options
  • Power Options
  • Printers and Faxes
  • Regional and Language Options
  • Scanners and Cameras
  • Scheduled Tasks
  • Sounds and Audio Devices
  • Stored User Names and Passwords
  • Speech
  • System
Microsoft Product Documentation:
Control Panel




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:39 AM

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  Wednesday, January 21, 2009 – Permalink –

Dvorak Anyone?

Alternative Keyboard Layouts

"Free keyboard layouts — called Dvorak layouts — are available for people who type with one hand or finger. These layouts make the most frequently typed characters on a keyboard more accessible to people who have difficulty using the standard keyboard layout (called the "QWERTY" layout).

Dvorak keyboard layouts reduce the amount of motion required to type common English text. Use of these layouts may also help avoid some types of repetitive strain injuries associated with typing.

Studies have also shown an increase in typing speed and accuracy when using the Dvorak layout for two hands. The left-hand or right-hand keyboard layouts can also be useful for people who type with a wand."



You do not need to modify your hardware keyboard to use these layouts, but you will need to change your keyboard settings to use the Dvorak layouts.

(A keyboard layout is a map or a definition of how keys are laid out on your keyboard. The keyboard layout you use is determined by software in your computer. The letters on your keys indicate the standard layout for your keyboard.)

Tutorials and downloads


Dvorak layouts


Introducing the Dvorak Keyboard
By Marcus Brooks

A Brief Primer
by Randy Cassingham




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:09 AM

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  Monday, December 15, 2008 – Permalink –

Who Needs a Mouse?

Finger tricks



Rather not use a mouse?

MouseKeys is designed for people who have difficulty using a mouse. MouseKeys allows you to use the numeric keypad to control the mouse pointer.


  1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Accessibility Options.

  2. On the Mouse tab, under MouseKeys, select the Use MouseKeys check box.

  3. To turn off MouseKeys, clear the Use MouseKeys check box.

To turn on MouseKeys using keystrokes

  1. Press left ALT + left SHIFT + NUM LOCK.

  2. In the MouseKeys message dialog box, press SPACEBAR to clear the Turn off keyboard shortcut for this accessibility feature check box.

  3. Press TAB, and then press ENTER.


If you want to use the numeric keypad for data entry as well as for navigation, you can set the MouseKeys to be activated by pressing NUM LOCK.

If the Use shortcut check box in the Settings for MouseKeys dialog box is selected, you can turn MouseKeys on or off by pressing left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK

In Vista, Mouse Keys is located with the "Ease of use" icon. Then:





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<Doug Klippert@ 3:42 AM

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  Wednesday, December 03, 2008 – Permalink –

Start Menu List

List programs




Here is an interesting macro, with instructions on how to install it and a template that can be downloaded.

I recommend using the template to avoid the problems that can occur when pasting code.

A Macro to List All Programs in the Windows Start Menu
by Greg Chapman, MVP




"TechTrax is a free, monthly Ezine (online magazine) published the beginning of each month. TechTrax is geared toward anyone who wants to learn more about using computers, with a highlight on Microsoft technologies. TechTrax also makes a point to focus on issues of accessibility. The range of overall subjects and user level articles here in TechTrax are far reaching to cover a wide audience. From newbie to black belt articles."




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<Doug Klippert@ 2:46 AM

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  Monday, October 20, 2008 – Permalink –

Stop Program from Appearing

MFU list


To remove items from the Most Frequently Used Programs list, right-click Remove from this list. However, when you run the program again, it may reappear on the list.

You can stop a program from appearing on the Most Frequently Used Programs list. No mater how often you use the program it will never appear on this list.

  1. Click Start and select Run.
  2. Type regedit and click OK.
  3. Look for the registry key:
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\
  4. Under this key are a series of sub-keys representing the installed applications.
  5. Choose the executable you do not want to appear on the list. (for instance Excel.exe)
  6. Click Edit, point to New, and select String Value.
  7. Type NoStartPage for the value name.
  8. Close the Registry Editor.
  9. Restart the computer.


Microsoft Support:

Prevent a Program from Being Displayed in the Most Frequently Used Programs List in Windows XP

and

Start Menu (MFU) list is empty



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<Doug Klippert@ 3:16 AM

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  Friday, September 19, 2008 – Permalink –

Mouse Practice

Click quizzers


Unlike the kids today, not all of us were born with a mouse in our pablum glazed paw.

If you have a new user who needs practice using a Mouse, take a look at some of these links. There are some very well done games and some step by step instructions.


Ferry Halim:
Games


Seniornet.org:
Mouse Exercises

  • Placing the mouse
  • Clicking the mouse
  • Drag and drop
  • Drawing with the mouse


USA Quiz


Paper doll game


Queens Borough Public Library, New York:
How to use the mouse


Click tester

Shambles.net:
(This website is designed to support the international school communities in 17 countries in South East Asia.)
Mouse skills collection



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<Doug Klippert@ 7:03 AM

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  Sunday, August 31, 2008 – Permalink –

Paint.Net

Cougar Gold



Washington State University was thought of as a primarily agricultural institution in the past. Now they have burst into today's IT scene with an improvement on an old product.

"Paint.NET originated as a Computer Science senior design project during the Spring 2004 semester at Washington State University.

Paint.NET v3+ is image and photo manipulation software designed to be used on computers that run Windows. Paint.NET is jointly developed at Washington State University with additional help from Microsoft, and is meant to be a free replacement for the MS Paint software that comes with all Windows operating systems. The programming language used to create Paint.NET is C#, with GDI+ extensions.

It has been compared to other digital photo editing software packages such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro, Microsoft Photo Editor, and The GIMP."


Paint.NET free download



Tutorials



To order Cougar Gold Cheddar Cheese see:
The Creamery



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<Doug Klippert@ 3:19 AM

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  Wednesday, July 23, 2008 – Permalink –

Registry Backup

Safe or sorry, your choice


How many times have you seen these words?

"This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs."


The Registry contains information that Windows continually references during operation, such as profiles for each user, the applications installed on the computer and the types of documents that each can create, property sheet settings for folders and application icons, what hardware exists on the system, and the ports that are being used



Here's the Microsoft support article to guide you through the process:
How to back up, edit, and restore the registry
in Windows XP, Vista and Windows Server 2003

Also:
How to backup the Windows Registry


WindowsNetworking.com :
WindowsRegistry Backup 101



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<Doug Klippert@ 4:54 AM

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  Friday, July 04, 2008 – Permalink –

Windows Media Encoder

Screen capture plus


You can capture motion and sound or compress existing video files for use on the web/pod or screen.

PC Magazine:
Show and Tell

" Windows Media Encoder can capture the screen as you perform a task such as editing a photo; in fact, almost anything you can do on the screen can be recorded as a video. You can even narrate the demo as you record the steps you're performing. It's surprisingly easy to achieve good results in minutes. Probably the only reason the program isn't more widely used is that few people know it exists."



Microsoft Windows Media:
Windows Media Encoder 9 Series

Microsoft Support:
Support for Windows Media Encoder

Microsoft Media Knowledge Center:
Getting Started with Screen Capture Using Windows Media Encoder.



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<Doug Klippert@ 5:14 AM

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  Monday, April 28, 2008 – Permalink –

Regedits

Plus or minus 32



Microsoft "removed" regedt32.exe from XP.

Regedit.exe's functionality has been merged with regedt32.exe's.

In Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, Regedt32.exe is a small program that just runs Regedit.exe.

Pre XP:

Regedit.exe is the registration editor for 16-bit Windows. It is used to modify the Windows registration database.

Microsoft recommends that you use Regedit.exe only for its search capabilities on a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based computer.


Regedt32.exe is the configuration editor for Windows NT. It is used to modify the Windows NT configuration database, or the Windows NT registry. This editor allows you to view or modify the Windows NT registry.

The editor provides views of windows that represent sections of the registry, named hives. You must use extreme caution when you use it to change registry values.

Missing or incorrect values in the registry can make the Windows NT installation unusable.


Meryl.net:
An explanation with follow-up links.
A Tale of Two Regeds
By Meryl K. Evans

Also:
Editing the Vista Registry



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<Doug Klippert@ 6:49 AM

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  Saturday, April 12, 2008 – Permalink –

Alphabetize your Keyboard

Eat your heart out Dvorak


The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator


Ever wanted to quickly and easily define your own keyboard layout for a language Microsoft doesn't support? Or define your own keyboard layout so you can quickly and easily enter your favorite symbols with a simple keystroke? Well, want no more: the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator is here!

The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) extends the international functionality of Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 or Windows Vista (MSKLC will not run on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME or Windows NT4) by allowing users to:

  • Create new keyboard layouts from scratch
  • Base a new layout on an existing one
  • Modify an existing keyboard layout and build a new layout from it
  • Multilingual input locales within edit control fields.
  • Package the resulting keyboard layouts for subsequent delivery and installation.


Global Development and Computing Portal:
Windows Keyboard Layouts
(many different language keyboards)


Belarusian keyboard


Also see:
Dvorak anyone?




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<Doug Klippert@ 5:45 AM

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  Wednesday, August 22, 2007 – Permalink –

Vista Tips & Tricks Webcasts

On your demand


Here is a collection of webcasts about Vista and Office 2007 that you can watch whenever you want.

Vista Webcasts



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<Doug Klippert@ 8:13 AM

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