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  Web http://www.klippert.com


  Thursday, February 25, 2010 – Permalink –

Convert Graphic Styles

Straight forward

Often you will have pictures in one format and want to explore using it in a different manner.
Built into Office 2003/7/10 is a mini app called Microsoft Office Picture Manager.

1. Go to Start > All Programs > Microsoft Office > Microsoft Office Tools > Microsoft Office Picture Manager
2. Browse to the images you want to convert and select them
3. Go to File > Export
4. Under Export with this file format, click the dropdown and select one of the formats (TIFF, PNG, JPG, BMP. . .)


Converting WMF's






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<Doug Klippert@ 3:18 AM

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  Wednesday, February 17, 2010 – Permalink –

Temp Files

Where they live and breathe


Ed Bott discusses temp files; care, feeding, and cleaning.


EdBott.com








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<Doug Klippert@ 3:39 AM

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  Sunday, February 07, 2010 – Permalink –

Onscreen Keyboard

Tap or Click?


If you would like to have a keyboard on your screen that can be activated with your mouse you're in luck

Type osk in Start Run








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<Doug Klippert@ 3:24 AM

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  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@ 3:16 AM

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  Friday, January 15, 2010 – Permalink –

Name That File

Rules, more rules


There are still some restrictions on what a file can be named. Here are a couple of links that give more details:

VLaurie.com

MSDN.Microsoft.com






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<Doug Klippert@ 3:39 AM

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  Saturday, January 09, 2010 – Permalink –

TaskManager Look

You control


"If you want to leave your Task Manager showing on your desktop for a period of time, it can be nice to hide the title bar and gain that space for displaying more information. To do this, simply double-click on the empty area to the right of the tabs. Once it has switched views, you can switch back quickly by double-clicking anywhere on the border."



Downloadsquad.com





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<Doug Klippert@ 3:47 AM

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  Friday, January 01, 2010 – Permalink –

Print Spool Cleaning

When all else fails

When you can't get a document out of the Print queue, here's a suggestion:

Type "services.msc" at the Command prompt. That will open the Services
Window.

Scroll down the alphabetical list in the right window pane until you come
to "Print Spooler"

Right-click this entry, then select "stop".

Open Windows Explorer.

The usual path to the spool folder is:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Spool\PRINTERS

Delete every file within this folder to empty the print queue

Close the explorer window.
Return to your Services window.
Right-click the Print Spool entry and select
"Start" from the list. Close the services window and try printing again.

(You can also go to a command prompt and type net stop spooler or net start spooler to start and stop the service.)

See TopFreeStuff.com

For the brave, here’s a macro that will do the job:

@echo off
echo.
echo Purging the print queue . . .
net stop Spooler
echo Deleting all print jobs . . .
ping localhost -n 4 > nul
del /q %SystemRoot%\system32\spool\printers\*.*
net start Spooler
echo Done!
ping localhost -n 4 > nul





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<Doug Klippert@ 3:27 AM

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  Monday, December 28, 2009 – Permalink –

Hosts File

I've got your number


"...the Hosts file is like an address book. When you type an address like www.yahoo.com into your browser, the Hosts file is consulted to see if you have the IP address, or "telephone number," for that site. If you do, then your computer will "call it" and the site will open. If not, your computer will ask your ISP's (internet service provider) computer for the phone number before it can "call" that site.
Most of the time, you do not have addresses in your "address book," because you have not put any there. Therefore, most of the time your computer asks for the IP address from your ISP to find sites."

What is a Hosts file?

MVPS.org has a Hosts file that you can download and install. It includes a BAT file that renames the old file before it saves the new one.
Hosts

"Important Notice - 2K/XP Users

In most cases a large HOSTS file (over 135 kb) tends to slow down the machine. This only occurs in W2000 and XP. Windows 98 and Windows ME are not affected.

To resolve this issue (manually) open the "Services Editor"
  1. Start>Run (type) "services.msc" (no quotes)
  2. Scroll down to "DNS Client",
  3. Right-click and select: Properties
  4. Click the drop-down arrow for "Startup type"
  5. Select: Manual, click Apply/OK and restart.
BTW
If you want to see Google AdSense entries, you may want to edit the MVP list. One of the entries is:
127.0.0.1 adwords.google.com #[Gmail ads]
Plus other Google entries.


[Edited entry from 12/28/2006]



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<Doug Klippert@ 3:10 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



[Edited entry from 10/31/2006]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:48 AM

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  Tuesday, October 06, 2009 – Permalink –

Unicode is Big

More symbols and letters


This free download lets you see and select more characters in the Unicode set. The Unicode Character Grid shows all assigned characters and private use characters in Unicode 5.2.




Here's a blog covering Scripts, Unicode, Character Encoding and BabelStone Stuff
BableStone Blog



[Edited entry from 9/14/2006]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:15 AM

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  Tuesday, September 22, 2009 – Permalink –

Online Crash Analysis

May you never need it



Windows Memory Diagnostic


The Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer for errors. The diagnostic includes a comprehensive set of memory tests. If you are experiencing problems while running Windows, you can use the diagnostic to determine whether the problems are caused by failing hardware, such as RAM or the memory system of your motherboard.

Windows Memory Diagnostic is designed to be easy and fast. On most configurations, you can download the diagnostic, read the documentation, run the test and complete the first test pass in less than 30 minutes.


[Edited entry from 8/26/2006]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:59 AM

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  Tuesday, September 15, 2009 – Permalink –

Thumbnail Sizing

Just right


You can change the size of your thumbnails by adding a new value to the registry. The range is between 32 and 256. Pick one that fits your prescription.


  1. Click Start and click Run.
  2. Type regedit and click OK.
  3. Locate the following registry key: 
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer.
  4. From the Edit menu, point to New, and click DWORD Value.
  5. Type in ThumbnailSize and press Enter.
  6. Double click the new value. Enter in a hexadecimal value between 32 and 256.
  7. Close the registry editor.
This tip was brought up by Lockergnome.com:
 Change The Size Of Your Thumbnails




[Edited entry from 8/17/2006]


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<Doug Klippert@ 3:31 AM

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  Tuesday, September 08, 2009 – Permalink –

Start Pics

Change your Welcome avatar



Windows allows you to choose the picture that is displayed on the logon screen and the Start Menu.

It is absurdly easy to change the picture.

Just double click the picture that appears on the menu (as opposed to the Classic menu) and follow the prompts to Browse to the location of the graphic you want to show.



Ed Bott:

Change your picture on the Welcome screen and Start menu


[Edited entry from 8/9/2006]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:18 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



[Edited entry from 7/21/2006]



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<Doug Klippert@ 3:03 AM

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  Tuesday, August 11, 2009 – Permalink –

Auto Login

Sole user


If you are the only person using the computer, you can have it automatically log you on.

Go to Start>Run ; type in:

"control userpasswords2"

(no quotes)

Uncheck:

"Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer"

[Edited entry from 7/8/2006]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:36 AM

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  Monday, August 03, 2009 – Permalink –

Change the View

Adjust how it looks


Sometimes the performance of Windows XP can be tweaked by adjustinga few settings.

  1. Right Click the My Computer Icon

  2. Choose Properties

  3. Go to Advanced>Performance>Settings>Advanced
Pick one of these options:
Let Windows choose what's best for my computer
Restore settings to Windows choice.
Adjust for best appearance
Turn on all visual effects
Adjust for best performance
Turn off all visual effects
Or uncheck these settings:
  • Fade or slide menus into view
  • Fade or slide ToolTips into view
  • Fade out menu items after clicking
  • Show Shadows under menus
  • Slide open combo boxes
  • Slide taskbar buttons
  • Use a background image for each folder type
  • Use common tasks in folders

[Edited entry from 6/30/2006]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:54 AM

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  Tuesday, July 28, 2009 – Permalink –

Stop Spock Salute

No more three fingers


If you are tired of crunching down three keys to logon your machine, here is the way to get rid of Ctrl+Alt+Delete.

It does involve a registry hack so be careful and back up the entries before doing this.

  1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

  2. Value Name: DisableCAD

  3. Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)

  4. Value Data: (0 = Require Ctrl+Alt+Delete, 1 = Disable)
For more tricks try
Winguides.com:
Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete Before Logon



[Edited entry from 6/22/2006]


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<Doug Klippert@ 3:50 AM

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  Tuesday, July 14, 2009 – Permalink –

Print Problems

Some clues


"You've finished your report, presentation, or cost analysis using a Microsoft Office program. The information is rich with data and detail. Now comes the final step: printing it and showing the world your hard work on paper. This is the point at which printing can give you a headache. Right when you want to wrap up your work, project, or school assignment, questions start popping into your mind"

Troubleshoot your printing problems in Office


[Edited entry from 6/6/2006]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:35 AM

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  Sunday, June 21, 2009 – Permalink –

Clip Art at Home

Install more


Do you remember all of the clip art that was available locally with Office XP?

When you have an Internet connection, you have access to the Office Online collection, but if you would like more clip art installed on your machine:


A small amount of sample clip art images was included The 2007 Office systems and Office 2003 and is part of the "local collection" that is searched when you do not have Internet access to the Microsoft Office Online Clip Art and Media Web site. Office 2003 no longer included a media content CD with additional clip art. However, the Microsoft Office XP Media Content CD can still be installed locally or on a network share.

The Office XP Media Content CD contains approximately 35,000 clips that are a subset of the clips that are available on the Microsoft Office Online Clip Art and Media Web site. The Office XP Media Content CD was included with Microsoft Office XP Professional, Microsoft Office XP Standard, and Microsoft Publisher 2002 Deluxe Edition.

To install the contents of the Office XP Media Content CD on a computer, follow these steps:
  1. Exit all programs that are running

  2. Insert the Office XP Media Content CD into the CD drive or into the DVD drive
    (Hold down the SHIFT key to prevent the program from automatically starting. If Microsoft Windows Installer automatically starts, click Cancel)

  3. Click Start, click Run, type the following command, and then click OK: 
    msiexec.exe /i CD_drive:\CAG.MSI ADDLOCAL=ALL /qb
(CD_drive is the letter of the drive that contains the Office XP Media Content CD)
Support.Microsoft.com
How to add clip art to Clip Organizer in a 2007 Office system and in Office 2003



[Edited entry from 5/5/5006]



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<Doug Klippert@ 3:53 AM

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  Thursday, June 18, 2009 – Permalink –

Über Updater

Universal

To check on the latest version of a piece of software, you can poke around Tools, Tasks, About or some other menu.
To check out your whole machine including programs that weren't written by Microsoft, or Adobe, look at CleanSofts Update Notifier
What is Update Notifier?
The Update Notifier is a small utility that scans your computer for installed software and displays a list of updates. Also you can see the latest updates for applications from your Watch List.
It will show you updates for programs you forgot you ever installed.
It's a simple download app that is not "installed".

CleanSofts.org




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:25 AM

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  Tuesday, May 12, 2009 – Permalink –

Byte, Nibble, Crumb, Bit

Umpty ump definitions and references — maybe even a googol.


We all know/knew that a nibble is four binary digits or half of a (eight-bit) byte and that a crumb is jargon for two bits (two binary digits). However, there must be some other definitions that don't pop into mind right away.

That's where Whatis, an IT-specific encyclopedia comes in.



"Every File Format in the World"

This is a list of file name extension or suffixes that indicate the format or usage of a file and a brief description of that format.

KAR
MIDI file (text+MIDI) (Karaoke)


[Edited entry from 3/17/2006]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:35 AM

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  Monday, April 27, 2009 – Permalink –

Change Your Name

Change your company


Ever work at a computer that had been assigned to someone else in the past and be bothered by seeing their name pop up all the time?

You can take charge of your own life!

  1. Go to the Start button and open up the Control Panel
  2. Select User Accounts and click on the account that you wish to Change
  3. Click the "Change my name" option
Another way is to:
  1. Go to Start>Run

  2. Type: regedit

  3. Find:
    HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version

  4. On the right pane, look for 'RegisteredOwner'

  5. Right click the RegisteredOwner key to edit it

  6. Right click the entry and select Modify

  7. You could also change the RegisteredOrganization.

[Edited entry from 3/2/2006]


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<Doug Klippert@ 3:33 AM

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  Monday, April 13, 2009 – Permalink –

Windows Keyboard Tricks

Mouse-less motions


Here is a collection of shortcuts for Windows:
Keyboard shortcuts for Windows

One of the shortcuts is a way to minimize all Windows from the keyboard.

+M

Also see:

Kürzungen für jeder


[Edited entry from 2/15/2006]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:05 AM

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  Monday, April 06, 2009 – Permalink –

Logon Welcome Warning

Opening notice



You can write and display your own warning notice (up to 256 characters).

It takes just a little trip into the bowels of the Registry editor.

Go to the Start button.

Choose Run and type Regedit

Hit Enter:
  1. Registry Key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

  2. Modify or Create the Value Name
    [LegalNoticeCaption]

  3. Data Type:
    REG_SZ [String Value]

  4. Value Name:
    LegalNoticeCaption

  5. Value Data for LegalNoticeCaption:
    [Type the Caption for the Dialog Box]
  1. Modify or Create the Value Name
    [LegalNoticeText]

  2. Data Type:
    REG_SZ [String Value]

  3. Value Name:
    LegalNoticeText

  4. Value Data for LegalNoticeText:
    [Type the Data for the Legal Notice]
Exit Registry Reboot

Support.microsoft.com:
How to Enable a Warning Logon Welcome

TheElderGeek.com:
Create Legal Notice Logon Dialog Box

Winguides.com:
Legal Notice Dialog Box


[Edited entry from 2/8/2006]

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<Doug Klippert@ 3:14 AM

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  Saturday, March 28, 2009 – Permalink –

Forgotten Password

Still sign on, or not


Forgetting your password can be an annoyance or a catastrophe. Here are ways to get back to work.
Note If you have not created a password reset disk, and you have also forgotten the password for all user accounts, you cannot log on to your existing Windows installation for security reasons. This information applies to starting Windows XP typically, to safe mode, and to Recovery Console. In this case, you must perform a "clean" installation of Windows XP, re-create all user accounts, and then reinstall all your programs.

Creating a Password Reset Disk in Microsoft Windows Vista
How to create and use a password reset disk in Windows Vista


Support.Microsoft.com:
How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your password or your password expires

Petri.co.il:
Forgot the administrator's password?

TechTrax:
I Forgot My Administrator Password!

ComputerHope.com:
Lost or forgotten Windows NT / 2000 / XP password


[Edited entry from 1/30/2006]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:11 AM

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  Monday, February 23, 2009 – Permalink –

Stars on Your Desktop

Space image wallpaper


NASA is wandering around space snapping photos with an advanced form of a Brownie SureShot.

Here is a collection of interstellar portraits and space art the can be used as wallpaper to be viewed as you warp thought the Internet.



Veil nebula

SpaceWallpapers.net



[Edited entry from 12/20/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:36 AM

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  Monday, February 02, 2009 – Permalink –

Don't Display

Logon, Logoff, Startup and Shutdown Status Messages


To turn these off:

Start Regedit
Go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
If it is not already there, create a DWORD value named DisableStatusMessages

Give it a value of 1


To turn on:


Locate and then click the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.

Type verbosestatus, and then press ENTER.

Double-click the new key that you created, type 1 in the Value data box, and then click OK.

Quit Registry Editor.

NOTE: Windows does not display status messages if the following key is present and the value is set to 1:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableStatusMessages

Verbose Status Messages


[Edited entry from 11/06/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:06 AM

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  Sunday, February 01, 2009 – Permalink –

MailTo Shortcut

Just a quick note


You can create a shortcut on your desk top that will start or switch to your default email application. You can also fill in parts of the message if you want.

Right-click an empty spot on the desktop and choose New>Shortcut.
In the box that says "Type the location of the item", enter something like:

mailto:All@Once.com.



The University of Nebraska at Lincoln has some other entries you may want to try. They are intended as HTML hyperlink references, but some of them work as shortcuts too.
MailTo

Outfront.net also has some information:
Getting More From 'mailto'

[Edited entry from 11/30/2005]


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<Doug Klippert@ 3:50 AM

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  Saturday, December 20, 2008 – Permalink –

Defeat Personalized Menus

A fast way in


Personalized menus display just your recently used menu items for a few seconds before the entire menu is displayed.

If you like this feature and have left it enabled, you can display a full menu by double-clicking the menu name when you open it.

To turn this off, go to Tools>Customize Options and put a check by Always show full menus.



For 2007, see:

Indiana University


[Edited entry from 9/27/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:56 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:




Mouse keys

[Updated entry from 10/8/2005]



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<Doug Klippert@ 3:37 AM

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  Monday, November 17, 2008 – Permalink –

Path to Control Panel

Browser direction



Instead of leaving the IE browser, to open Control Panel, just type in the address bar
(without quotes).

"control panel\"

followed by whatever feature in the Control Panel you want.
For example,

"control panel\display"

takes you to the display settings.

Also:

How to Open Control Panel Folders from the Command Prompt


[Edited entry from 8/28/2005]



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<Doug Klippert@ 3:45 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

[Edited entry from 7/6/2005]



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<Doug Klippert@ 3:14 AM

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  Friday, October 03, 2008 – Permalink –

Edit Open With

Pruning tips


"When you right click certain files, you'll see a selection to "open with," and when you click it, you'll see a list of programs to choose from. You can remove some of the applications from this list if you will never use them to open this type of file, or you can clear the list completely, by editing the registry.
  1. Open the registry editor.
    (Start>Run Regedit will do it)
  2. Go to the following key: HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts
  3. Scroll down the list of file extensions to the one for which you want to edit or clear the list.
  4. Click the + to expand OpenWithList
  5. In the right pane, you should see a list of programs (for example, Word.exe, notepad.exe, etc.).
  6. Click the one(s) you want to remove. Press the Delete key.

If this doesn't remove the program(s) you want to remove,
  • Go to: HKEY CLASSES ROOT
  • Scroll to the desired file extension
  • Click OpenWithList, and remove the program there

(The settings under HKEY CURRENT USER apply only when your user account is logged on. The ones under HKEY CLASSES ROOT apply to all users).

[Edited entry from 6/28/2005]



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<Doug Klippert@ 3:33 AM

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  Friday, September 12, 2008 – Permalink –

Create your own Screensaver

Choose your own images


Windows has a feature that allows you to create a screensaver from images saved in a folder.
You can use pictures you already have or use a PowerPoint slide show.


  1. Open the PowerPoint presentation. If you want to save a specific slide, select it in Normal view.
  2. On the File menu, click Save As.
  3. Select an empty folder or create a new empty folder in which to save your presentation or slide.
  4. In the Save as type box, click Device Independent Bitmap, and then click Save. You can keep the original presentation file name or create a new name.
  5. Click Every Slide or Current Slide Only, and then click OK.
  6. Your presentation or slide is saved to the folder that you selected. After you close your PowerPoint presentation, you will use Windows XP to open the presentation or slide as a screen saver.
    (Animations that you may have added to the original presentation will not play when you create the screen saver. )
  7. Close your presentation.




  1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Display, or right-click an empty part of the desktop and choose Properties.
  2. On the Screen Saver tab, click My Pictures Slideshow (Photos in Vista).
  3. Under Screen saver, click Settings.
  4. Under How often should pictures change?, set the slider at the interval you want between pictures, or, if you are making a single slide a screen saver, move the slider to Less (three minutes) to avoid a distracting flicker on the screen during the transitions.
  5. Under Use pictures in this folder, browse to the folder in which you saved the presentation or slide.
  6. If you saved a single slide, clear the Use transition effects between pictures and Allow scrolling through pictures with the keyboard check boxes.
    (screen saver transition effects in this screen saver option are predesigned and do not include the transitions that you set when you created the presentation.)
  7. Click OK.


To preview your new screen saver, on the Screen Saver tab, click Preview

Create a screen saver from slides

[edited entry from 6/2/2005]



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<Doug Klippert@ 2:29 AM

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  Tuesday, September 09, 2008 – Permalink –

Save the Screen

Won't someone please!



"AJ Screensaver is a freeware clock screensaver. This screensaver is based on work of others.

Several very interesting clock shockwave flash files are packed in this screensaver."


A variety of clocks appear. The web site gives links to the original artists.

Freeware: AJScreenSaver


Anne Jan Beeks's site is part of a ring that includes:
Free Screensavers.com

[Edited entry from 5/30/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 2:43 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

[Edited entry from 5/18/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:17 AM

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  Monday, August 25, 2008 – Permalink –

MS Groups

Web based Newsreader


We can't forget that, even with blogs and google, there are still news groups out there helping to solve common problems.

Microsoft has a site that organizes a number of groups and makes access easy on the web.

"The Web-based Newsreader allows you to participate in discussion groups directly in your Web browser; you don't need to install or configure anything. You can use the Web-based Newsreader to read, post, search for, and reply to messages in discussion groups from the part of Usenet that concerns Microsoft products and technologies."


Microsoft Discussion Groups

Help for the Web-based Newsreader

[Edited entry from 5/12/2005]



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<Doug Klippert@ 3:45 AM

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  Wednesday, August 20, 2008 – Permalink –

Notepad

Really basic


There are hundreds of freeware substitutes for Windows Notepad, but you can still do some interesting things with the standard version included with Windows.


To create a file that time-dates entries, on the first line of a Notepad document, type the following extension at the left margin, making sure you use all uppercase letters and include the period:

.LOG

After making an entry, save Notepad. When you next open the file, the previous date and time will be displayed.


You can, also insert the date and time by clicking Edit and select Time/Date, or just press F5. The current date and time will automatically be inserted into your file.


You can also change the Font on the Format menu and change the page layout on File>Page Setup.


To work with Headers and Footers,
On the File menu, click Page Setup.
In the Header or Footer box, type the letter and character combination from the following list:


Insert the open file's name or (untitled) if the file has no name.
&f

Insert the date.
&d

Insert the time specified by your computer's clock.
&t

Insert page numbers.
&p

Insert an ampersand (&).
&&

Align the header or footer to the left, center, or right.
&l, &c, or &r


Note

  • You can use more than one combination in the Header or Footer box. Leaving a space or two between each combination will make the header or footer easier to read.
  • To align text to the left, center, or right, you must first enter &l, &c, or &r in the Header or Footer box, followed by any other combinations you want to use.
  • You can also incorporate text with the combinations. For example, Page &p will print out as Page 1, Page 2, and so on.


Product description

Replacing notepad in Windows Vista

Also see:

WebTech University:
Using Windows Notepad as an HTML Editor

[Edited entry from 5/6/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:32 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

[Edited entry from 3/30/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 4:52 AM

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  Wednesday, July 16, 2008 – Permalink –

Troubleshooting Windows Shutdown

I said shutdown!


" Have you ever tried to shut down Windows, only to have the shutdown sequence hang, or to have the computer reboot instead of shutting down? Shut down problems are one of the most common types of problems with the Windows operating system. At the same time though, they are also one of the problems that is most seldom resolved because shut down problems tend to take a back seat to more serious issues. Troubleshooting operating system shut down problems is easier than you might think though. In this article, I will share some techniques with you that you can use to resolve shut down problems on machines in your office."


WindowsNetworking.com:
Troubleshooting Windows Shutdown Problems

Also:

Windows Support Center:
Windows Shutdown & Restart Center


The Elder Geek on Windows XP:
Troubleshooting Windows XP Shutdown Issues


LabMice.net
Troubleshooting Windows XP Shutdown Issues


Microsoft Support WebCast:
Microsoft Windows XP: Troubleshooting Startup and Shutdown Problems

Vista Shutdown problems

Make Windows Vista Shut Down Services Quicker

[Edited entry from 3/22/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 5:03 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.



[Edited entry from 3/8/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 5:13 AM

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  Monday, June 02, 2008 – Permalink –

Write Help

Help yourself


Joe Welinske put together a company called WritersUA, (formerly WinWriters).
I have attended their sessions in the past and found them to be entertaining and comprehensive.

"WritersUA specializes in providing quality training and publications for the community of user assistance professionals. The world of user assistance comprises a variety of techniques and technologies to make working with software a better experience. This includes online Help, wizards, web sites, printed documentation, and improvements to the application user interface."



Help writing tools
Resources

Also:
Creating "Smart Help" with Conditional Content
By Dave Gash, HyperTrain dot Com

"This article discusses several methods you can use to make Web-based Help systems "smart", by using conditional content to customize the appearance and behavior of your pages to the users' needs. "



Also:
TheFreeCountry.com:
Free Help Authoring Tools

[Edited entry from 1/24/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 8:58 AM

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  Saturday, May 24, 2008 – Permalink –

Windows Guides and Links

A collectors collection



"With over 960 pages scattered throughout the domain, something is bound to catch your attention."

BlackViper.com

Operating System Guides include:
  • Red Hat 8.0
  • Windows 2000 Professional and Server
  • Windows 2003 Enterprise Server
  • Windows Me
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP Home
  • Windows XP Professional




[Edited entry from 1/11/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 6:47 AM

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  Wednesday, May 14, 2008 – Permalink –

(A:)Drive in Front

Change display



In Microsoft Windows, on mapped drives, the Drive letter may appear last.

My Financial Statements (Alpha1) (D:)
3 1/2 Floppy (A:)

To change the so that the drive letter comes first:
(A:) 3 1/2 Floppy

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.

  2. Locate and then click the following subkey in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

  3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.

  4. Type ShowDriveLettersFirst, and then press ENTER.

  5. On the Edit menu, click Modify.

  6. Type 4, and then click OK.




Key: ShowDriveLettersFirst
Type: DWORD
Value: 1, 2, or 4
If the value is 1, the drive letter is displayed first for remote drives.
If the value is 2, drive letters are not displayed.
If the value is 4, the drive letter is displayed first for all drives.

Microsoft KB:

The computer description appears before the computer name in Windows XP

"In Windows Vista, you can also use the ShowDriveLettersFirst and the ToggleCommentPosition registry entries to set the display order. However, if you set the ShowDriveLettersFirst entry only under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry key, the setting will not take effect after you change folder options. You must set the ShowDriveLettersFirst entry under both the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry key and the HKEY_CURRENT_USER registry key."


[Edited entry from 1/8/2005]




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<Doug Klippert@ 7:12 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

[Edited entry from 11/8/2004]




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<Doug Klippert@ 6:43 AM

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  Thursday, April 24, 2008 – Permalink –

Virus Information

Source list


"A virus is a type of program that can replicate itself by making (possibly modified) copies of itself. The main criterium for classifying a piece of executable code as a virus is that it spreads itself by means of 'hosts'.

A virus can only spread from one computer to another when its host is taken to the uninfected computer, for instance by a user sending it over a network or carrying it on a removable disk. Additionally, viruses can spread to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer.

Viruses are sometimes confused with worms. A worm, however, can spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host. Many personal computers are now connected to the Internet and to local-area networks, facilitating their spread.

Today's viruses may also take advantage of network services such as the World Wide Web, e-mail, and file sharing systems to spread, blurring the line between viruses and worms."



(Wikipedia)


Virus Information

Google Directory

Panda Software:

Virus Course


This is a two-hour basic course, through which you will acquire a basic knowledge on viruses and on how to be protected against them.
The course consists of twelve chapters:


  1. The beginning.
  2. Basics.
  3. Viruses and their effects.
  4. Types of virus.
  5. Example of virus.
  6. Example of hoaxes.
  7. Virus entry-points.
  8. What is an antivirus program?
  9. How to combat viruses?
  10. Is my computer protected?
  11. Suspected virus infection?
  12. Some tips.


[Edited entry from 11/22/2004]




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<Doug Klippert@ 6:12 AM

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  Saturday, April 19, 2008 – Permalink –

Explorer Default

Choose your Folder


When you click the Windows Explorer shortcut on your Start Menu, you are probably used to the fact that it always opens in the same folder. For example the My Documents folder. Vista opens to your personal User>Documents folder.

You can arrange for it to open to the folder of your choice by editing the properties of the Explorer shortcut.

Open Windows Explorer and locate your Start Menu folder (if you are using Windows XP, this will be in the c:\Documents and Settings directory under your profile). Right click the shortcut to Windows Explorer and click Properties. From the Shortcut tab, change the target so it reads as follows:

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, c:\folder

where c:\folder is the path to the folder that you want Explorer to open.


If you leave off the /e switch, Windows Explorer opens in a single pane view.


Another switch is /n. It opens a new single-pane window for the default selection. This is usually the root of the drive that Windows is installed on. If the window is already open, a duplicate opens.


Explorer.exe Command-Line Options


Click OK. Now when you launch Windows Explorer from the Start Menu, it will open in the folder that you specified.


If Explorer is not one of the shortcuts, Right click the contents pane and choose New>Shortcut.
Enter the same instructions.


You could also Right click the desktop and create a new shortcut.

[Edited entry from 11/30/2004]




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<Doug Klippert@ 6:49 AM

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  Sunday, March 30, 2008 – Permalink –

100% is not enough

Slow machine


Here are a couple of areas to look at if your machine slows down for no obvious reason.


Do the three finger Vulcan salute (Ctrl+Alt+Delete) to bring up the Windows Task manager.

If you see a level 100% on the performance tab try these possible solutions.

If you see near 100% CPU activity on the Processes tab by an "Image name" of Cisvc.exe, you might want to turn that service off.

Description: Microsoft Index Service Helper, a service that monitors the memory usage of Microsoft Indexing Service (cidaemon.exe) and automatically re-starts cidaemon.exe if it uses more than 40 MB of memory.

It's needed if you've set up any of your drives or directories to be indexed. Without it running, you could potentially invite a memory "hole", as the indexing service would not clear its RAM usage, as it goes.

If you are not indexing anything, there's no need for it to run

1. Go to Control Panel Administrative Tools > Services
2. Click on the "Standard" tab at the bottom of the box
3. Click on the Name label to sort by Name. Locate "Indexing Service". Double click.
4. Change the "Startup type" to 'Disabled'
5. Click on "Apply"
6. click on "Stop"


Another suggestion:

100 Percent CPU Usage Occurs When You Print on an LPT Printer Port

SYMPTOMS

When you print on an LPT printer port, 100 percent CPU usage occurs until the print job is completed. This slows down other programs until the print job is completed. In some case, other programs may slow down enough that they seem completely unresponsive. This behavior affects all power users who have many programs running at one time.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Windows 2000/XP does not have interrupt support for LPT printers.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, print to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) printer port. If the printer does not have this capability, use a parallel-USB cable.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.



Also see What Slows Windows Down


Is Vista slow? Ed Bott answers

[Edited entry from 11/1/2004]




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<Doug Klippert@ 3:06 AM

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  Tuesday, March 25, 2008 – Permalink –

Repair Internet/Network connection

Before the service call


Loss of connectivity is usually solved by the big three:

  • Restarting the computer
  • Unplugging the router
  • Unplugging the modem


Vista has a built in feature that you'll usually find on the Task bar.
It indicates current connections, but if you right click you can find Diagnose and repair.




Repair your connection

Network Diagnostics Framework



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<Doug Klippert@ 5:03 AM

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  Friday, February 29, 2008 – Permalink –

Search for Vista File Nits

Refine the questions


You can use Vista search to locate metadata information. Such as the date on the file:
date:>2/7/05<2/10/05>

Searches for a date in the Date property between the values 2/7/05 and 2/10/05, excluding the end dates.


Or all of the photos on your machine taken with a Canon:

Camera make

cameramake (cameramake:canon)







Advanced Query terms

HowToGeek - Date Search



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<Doug Klippert@ 7:07 AM

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  Thursday, February 14, 2008 – Permalink –

Taskbar Vanishes

Start menu gone


Even though Windows is close to perfect, there are times when it announces that Windows Explorer has failed. This leaves you with a screen and no way to take action, except to reboot the machine.

Here's how to restart Explorer.exe from the Task Manager.

There is also a short video for demonstration.


Disappearing Taskbar



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<Doug Klippert@ 6:36 AM

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  Monday, February 04, 2008 – Permalink –

Tweak Vista

Tune-up suggestions


There are third party apps that you can use to improve Vista's performance. If you want to do it on your own, here are some Redmond suggestions:

  • Delete programs you never use

  • Limit how many programs load at startup

  • Defragment your hard drive

  • Clean up your hard disk

  • Run fewer programs at the same time

  • Turn off visual effects

  • Restart regularly

  • Add more memory

  • Check for viruses and spyware

  • Check your computer’s speed

  • Disable services you don’t need

  • Don’t settle for slow


Optimize Windows Vista

Also:

TweakHound

OptimizeVista




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<Doug Klippert@ 7:34 AM

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  Friday, January 25, 2008 – Permalink –

Task Manager

When your machine has the snivels


There's a lot of stuff going on in the background that you might want to know about.

That's where the Task Manager comes in.


"There are a couple of ways to show the Windows Task Manager: hold down the Ctrl and Alt keys and press the Delete key - Task Manager will then open some versions of Windows, in others you will be presented with a small dialog box that has a button you can click to open the Task Manager; alternatively you can right-click on empty space on the Taskbar and select Task Manager from the menu."

Here's Vista's version:




From the BloodyComputer:


Task Manager 1

Task Manager 2



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<Doug Klippert@ 6:58 AM

Comments:
Thanks for the links to my site. Feel free to link to any of my other posts that are about Office.

Cheers
Kevin
# posted by Blogger Stepterix : 1/25/2008
 
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  Thursday, November 15, 2007 – Permalink –

High-Res Wallpaper

Details apparent


Choose from a broad selection of free pictures to use for wallpaper.

Download sizes from 1920x1200 to 320x240.



Free High-Resolution Widescreen Wallpaper



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<Doug Klippert@ 5:45 AM

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  Wednesday, November 07, 2007 – Permalink –

Custom Shortcuts

Hands on keys


Ed Bott reminds us how to set up custom keyboard shortcuts to start applications.



Create custom keyboard shortcuts


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<Doug Klippert@ 4:56 AM

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  Tuesday, October 30, 2007 – Permalink –

Save the Warning

Easy record


It happens. Your machine balks and spits out an obscure warning message.

You grab a pen and scribble out the error code, which typically is 90 characters long.

Too much hassle!

When the warning box appears, just hit Ctrl+C. The contents of the box are now on the Clipboard and can be pasted into Notepad.






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<Doug Klippert@ 7:08 AM

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  Wednesday, October 24, 2007 – Permalink –

Daylight Savings

Get a little, lose a little


"Beginning in 2007, daylight saving time (DST) will be extended in the United States. DST will start on March 11, 2007, which is three weeks earlier than usual, and it will end on November 4, 2007, which is one week later than usual .This results in a new DST period that is four weeks longer than in previous years.

Unless certain updates are applied to your computer, the time zone settings for your computer's system clock may be incorrect during this four-week period. In particular, you must make sure that both your Windows operating system and your calendar programs are updated.

Home users: If you use Windows Vista or have Automatic Updates turned on, you may not be affected by the change in daylight saving time. If you want to confirm, follow the steps in the Daylight Saving Time Update Guide.

IT professionals and IT managers: The Daylight Saving Time Update Guide will lead you to KB articles and downloads"



Support.Microsoft.com:.
DST Help and Support Center

Also see"
Go Back 23 Hours



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<Doug Klippert@ 7:38 AM

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  Sunday, October 21, 2007 – Permalink –

Custom System Display

Painless branding



"When you open the System applet (in the Control Panel), you will see some specific information listed on the General tab such as who the type of computer and the registered owner. However, you can edit the information to also have your specific information displayed. For example, if you sell computers, you can have your company information displayed to remind your customers how to access your support information.

Once you perform the steps outlined below, not only will you have your own company information listed but a support information button will also be available from the System Properties window. Users can click the button to get specific support information about your company, such as the URL they should visit to find support. So here is what you have to do:

Open Notepad and create a text file called oeminfo.ini. If you are running Windows NT/2000, save the file in the c:\WINNT\System32 directory. If you are running Windows XP, save the file in the c:\Windows\System32 directory. Add the following information to the text file you just create:



[General]
Manufacturer=Your Company Name
Model=Model of Computer
SupportURL=http://supportWeb site
LocalFile=c:\localhelpfile\file.htm

[Support Information]
Line1=support information users should know
Line2=who users should contact for support
Line3=Phone number users should call
Line4=fourth line

You can create as many lines as you need by incrementing the number for each new line required.

To take this one step further, you can even have your company logo displayed by creating a 172x172 pixel bitmap image. Name the image oemlogo.bmp and save it in your system directory. Now when you open the System properties applet, your company information should appear."

Lockergnome

Also:
Microsoft KB:
How to Alter Logo Information on the System Tool's General Tab

Amset IT Solutions Ltd.:
Branding Your Machines

BeemerWorld.com:
Branding System Properties Panel

OEM in Vista

[Edited entry from 10/6/2004]




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  Saturday, October 06, 2007 – Permalink –

Two Monitors

Notes and Slides


"Now, what I am going to show is how to have two different desktop screens in this configuration. Yes, you heard me right. The base display (say, laptop screen) shows different applications and the secondary display (say, projector) displays a separate desktop."

Tips and tricks: Double Monitor Display
Dr Nitin Paranjape


  1. You are in a sales presentation. During the presentation, customer is negotiating the price. You want to refer to your price list, use Excel and calculate some discounts and so on.

  2. You are in a technical presentation. Someone asks a question about a topic you are not fully clear about. You can now refer to the technical help / documentation or website, without disturbing the base presentation.

  3. Assuming you have an Internet connection, you can even chat with colleagues, take approval from your boss, download additional deliverables and clinch a deal without leaving the presentation.

Vista and MultiMonitor Support

Four Monitors and Vista

Michael Hyatt's Working Smart Blog:
PowerPoint's "Presenter View"

G4TechTV:
Dual Monitors
written by Roger Chang and Greg Melton
This site has a video describing the process.

FreePCTech.com:
Guide to Dual Monitors in Windows
by Drew Dunn

[Edited entry from 10/29/2004]




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  Sunday, September 23, 2007 – Permalink –

Windows Explorer

Nee File Manager


A new Windows file management scheme appears to have been put on hold.

The next operating system will probably use a variation of the present method.


Here are a few suggestions and tips to use until we have to learn something new:


Vista Explorer

Explorer in Vista

12 Hidden Tricks

Shell team – Explorer

Microsoft:
7 Tips to Manage Your Files Better


FileXT.com:
Manage Files


While you're at it:
Bremer Communications:
How to Organize your Desk


Also See:
Paperless Office


[Edited entry from 9/20/2004]



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<Doug Klippert@ 7:08 AM

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  Thursday, September 06, 2007 – Permalink –

Vista Check Boxes

Select checks


Add check boxes to file views to make it easier to select several files at once, which can be useful if it is difficult for you to hold the CTRL key while clicking to select multiple files.


Step 1: Go to Control Panel>Appearance and Personalization>Click Folder Options.
Step 2: Click View tab and under Advanced Settings, Select Use Check boxes to select items





Enable checkboxes in Vista

Change folder views and behavior

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<Doug Klippert@ 8:29 AM

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  Friday, August 31, 2007 – Permalink –

Task Manager Big Boy Style

In depth system examination



Here's a free gadget from Microsoft:


"Ever wondered which program has a particular file or directory open? Now you can find out. Process Explorer shows you information about which handles and DLLs processes have opened or loaded.

The unique capabilities of Process Explorer make it useful for tracking down DLL-version problems or handle leaks, and provide insight into the way Windows and applications work. "



"Process Explorer works on Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Server 2003, and 64-bit versions of Windows for x64 and IA64 processors, and Windows Vista."


Process Explorer



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<Doug Klippert@ 8:20 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@ 8:11 AM

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  Friday, July 20, 2007 – Permalink –

Put IE Back on Desktop

Regedit ahead


  1. Click Start, Run.

  2. Type "regedit.exe" (Without quotes).

  3. Navigate to the following registry key
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

  4. In the right hand pane, double-click {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} key.
  5. Enter dword value as 0 to enable the Internet Explorer icon on the Desktop.



Internet Explorer 7 Desktop icon missing


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<Doug Klippert@ 7:00 AM

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  Friday, July 06, 2007 – Permalink –

MS RSS feeds

Eavesdrop on the experts


RSS feeds can give you a flow of new information.

Microsoft knows the value of these web casts and provides a list of links from Access to SharePoint Server:

RSS Feeds on Microsoft Office



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<Doug Klippert@ 7:18 AM

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  Saturday, June 23, 2007 – Permalink –

Stop Services

More resources


Not every service that is running on your machine is needed. Windows Networking has published a list that you may want to investigate.

The suggestion is to turn them off one at a time.

Disable unnecessary services to improve workstations performance


Also Bob Cercelli:
Services You Can Disable


And Blackviper.com

Some possibilities are:


Alerter -
Sends alert messages to specified users that are connected to the server computer.

Clipbook -
ClipBook permits you to cut and paste text and graphics over the network.

Fast User Switching -
Windows XP allows users to switch quickly between accounts, without requiring them to log off.
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service -
You don't need this if you have other software to create CDs.

Messenger -
Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This is how a lot of pop-up windows start appearing on your desktop.

Portable Media Serial Number -
Retrieves the serial number of any portable music player connected to your computer

Uninterruptible Power Supply Service -
Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer.

Also see:

Check for Ultimate Extras


[Edited entry from 8/26/2004]

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<Doug Klippert@ 6:17 AM

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  Thursday, June 14, 2007 – Permalink –

Folder Tree

DOS is back


"To find out how many folders there are on your hard disk, you can open a Command Prompt and use the Tree command. You'll get a very nice looking graphical tree structure showing all the folders on your hard disk.

The only problem is that the display will scroll by your screen so fast and exceed the buffer size, so you'll never be able to see it."



Import Tree command into Word




Tree command



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<Doug Klippert@ 7:14 AM

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  Friday, April 27, 2007 – Permalink –

All Programs Sort

Alpha my Adobe


After awhile, the list of programs on the All Programs list can get out of order.

Here's the super tech way to fix it:

Right click on the Programs menu and select Sort by Name.

Thank you very much.




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<Doug Klippert@ 6:00 AM

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  Friday, March 02, 2007 – Permalink –

One Icon, One Doc

Separate buttons


Rather than have Windows/Vista group all open documents under one single button, display one icon for each.


  1. Right click on the taskbar.

  2. Choose "Properties."

  3. In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box, uncheck the "Group similar taskbar buttons."

  4. Click the OK button.




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<Doug Klippert@ 6:27 AM

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  Thursday, February 22, 2007 – Permalink –

Vista Shut Down not Sleep

Change the default


In the old days of Windows, the shutdown option was not of great concern, because it remembered the last action and repeated it.

Vista is a little more stubborn.

The default action for the Power button on the start menu in Windows Vista is Sleep.

Many of my techy friends leave their machines on for years, but I prefer to shutdown at night.

Here's how to make the change:
  1. Go to Control Panel >Power Options

  2. Select Change Plan Settings >Change Advanced Power Settings

  3. Find "Power buttons and lid"

  4. Change the Start menu power button to either Shut Down Sleep, or Hibernate



The Power button action
Changes the hardware power button action.

The Start menu power button
Changes the power button on the Start Menu





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<Doug Klippert@ 6:47 AM

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  Wednesday, February 21, 2007 – Permalink –

Auto Show

Also Dumb No Dot



A PowerPoint show can be set up to run automatically when it is opened.

To do this, you could go to File>Save As and choose PowerPoint Show (*.pps) from the Save as type: list.

Another way is to change the extension (the three letters that appear after a file name such as Report.DOC).

PowerPoint uses .PPT for normal files, .POT for templates.

A PowerPoint show uses .PPS.

Microsoft "dumbed down" Windows Explorer so that, by default, extensions are not displayed.

To see them:

  1. Go to Windows Explorer.

  2. On the Menu bar go to Tools>Folder Options
    (Organize>Folder and Search Options in Vista)

  3. Click on the View tab.

  4. In the Advanced settings list, remove the check mark from "Hide file extensions for known file types."

  5. OK your way out.


To change a regular PowerPoint file to a show:
  1. Locate the file in Windows Explorer.

  2. Right click the file name and choose Rename.

  3. Touch the End key on the keyboard and the Backspace three times.

  4. Enter the letters PPS

  5. Hit Enter.


You now have a PowerPoint show that will automatically run when it is opened.


[Edited entry from 6/19/2004]




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<Doug Klippert@ 6:11 AM

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