Create a restore point This occurs automatically when you install an update. However, if you want to create one at any time then here are the steps: • Start “Run” and enter sysdm.cpl • Select “System Protection” tab • Click on “Create” • Type in a name for your restore point • When it’s done click “Create” and you’re done!! You should do this if you are installing a driver that you are not sure of or you just want to back up the system state in case you need to restore your system to a previous condition Windows key keyboard shortcuts Key Sequence Does this Win key by itself Start Menu Win key + B Show Taskbar Win key + E Open Explorer Win key + D Show Desktop Win key + I Windows Settings Win key + L Lock Windows Win key + M Minimize all Windows Shift Win key + M Undo minimize all Windows Win key + R Run Dialog Box Win key + Pause Shows system properties Win key + Tab Select Open Window Win key + F1 Windows Help Ctrl + Esc Start Menu When a window has focus Alt + Space Open window control menu Alt + Space then m Move the Window (With mouse or cursor keys) Alt + Space then s Resize the Window (With mouse or cursor keys) Alt + Space then x Maximize the Window Printing Windows Screens If you ever want to print or email a Windows dialog box. It's easy. Just follow these steps: • When the dialog box you wish to print or email is on the screen and active press ALT + print Scrn at the same time. This places the dialog box graphic into the Windows clipboard • Open whatever program you want to use. (It must be able to import bitmaps) • Press CTRL + V. This will paste the image from the Windows Clipboard to your application. • You can print or email it from there. Basic PC Tips ADSL2+ and NBN service Tips • Instead of the USB port or WIFI, use the ethernet port to connect the computer to the router. • If you do have a wireless router then make sure you have turned on WPA2-PSK security feature. If this is not done then anyone with a wireless card in their PC can use your internet. • Use a fixed IP address instead of DHCP. • If you ever upgrade the firmware of the router, always do it via a wired connection, not via a wireless. If possible, back up your settings before upgrading the firmware. • Look for a router that has the function to save your settings out to a file. But be careful where you store this file. Your username and password may be visible in any text editor. • Get a router with a built in SPI firewall. Check your monitor extension cable If you have an LCD monitor that has a DVI input and your Video card does as well - this this is the one to use. You get much better picture quality. If you must use the older style D15 plug then make sure you have a quality cable for this purpose. Otherwise your image will be a little distorted. Another thing that can result from a poor quality monitor cable is that you will not be able to set the resolution to that recommended by the manufacturer - especially true of wide screen monitors. Wide screen monitors usually support non standard resolutions. Inkjet Printer This tip is only really valid if you have separate colour cartridges. If your printouts contain horizontal straight lines then chances are you just need to perform several head cleans or one on your cartridges need replacing. If cleaning the heads does not solve the problem (see the manual that came with your printer) Then your next step is to work out which cartridge(s) needs replacing. Print this simple document from either Wordpad or any version of MS Word for Windows, you’ll be able to tell which colour cartridge is nearly empty. If changing the cartridges doesn’t fix it then I’m afraid the only remedy is to take the printer in for service. Hunting for quality PC Systems. Talk to computer technicians One thing I can suggest is when you finally end up at a computer shop, (after scouting all the computer magazines, etc) see if you are able to speak to a technician not a salesman, after all the technicians know the brands of equipment that come in for repair most often. For home users, go generic For home systems don’t go for a system that requires you to go that vendor when you want to upgrade the components (such as the motherboard for instance). Instead, go for a system that is based on high quality standard components. This insures that the PC you eventually get is easily upgradeable down the track. For servers, go Teir 1 However, for business servers, you may want to go for a specific manufacturer. Servers built by specific manufacturers (like Hewlett Packard, Dell IBM ) are built to a standard and thus offer superior performance specifications making them more suitable for servers. Also, with servers, take out a four hour (or even two hour if you can afford it) onsite warranty - that will come in handy one day. Don’t just go for the cheapest system Don’t let the price alone of the system be the deciding factor. A cheap machine now could mean you pay for expensive repairs later on. In other words be prepared to spend a little bit more for a quality system - one that won’t cause you heartache down the track. Check the vendor’s history Make sure the shop you buy one from has been around a while..I mean if you buy a PC with a 3 year warranty, make sure the shop is likely to be around in a few years to support it.... otherwise that warranty could be next to useless. Although individual components - like the hard drive or motherboard will be under the respective manufacturers warranty. Talk to knowledgeable friends Do you have good friends that build PC’s for a living, ask them for their help.....they are usually only too willing to help, but don’t over do it!. Check out this site If you need more detailed technical information on various pieces of hardware then I suggest you head over to Tom’s Hardware guide. It does get heavy going in parts - but it does give an objective look at hardware components. Get (and keep) those original disks and manuals Make sure the vendor gives you the original disks and manuals of any commercial software preloaded on your new PC. Not only is this a legal requirement, but can save frustration if you ever need to reinstall your software. You should also get the manuals and drivers for all of your components as well, especially the motherboard manual. Even if you don’t fully understand the manual at least you can take it with the PC if it ever needs to go in for repair. One small thing to note here is that some vendors (especially big department stores) have a special arrangement with Microsoft that allows them to sell you a machine with the operating system preinstalled on the computer but don’t have to give you the original CD. Even here, insist on getting the original Microsoft Windows CD (not just a recovery CD either) . If they don’t - then buy your machine from someone else who will. Buying that printer Here are some things to look out for when buying that printer with your system: • If you are buying a colour printer then make sure it has separate colour cartridges (preferably four colour - cyan, magenta, yellow and black). The reason for this is because if you are running low on one colour and your cartridges are combined then you would have to replace the lot! • Check the cost of the consumables - remember the purchase price is not the total cost of ownership. It's the on-going running costs that need to be taken into consideration as well. • Most printers do not come with a USB cable in the box - so don't leave this item off your shopping list. Mobile Phone Tips (geared towards Android) Backup your Phone With the amount of data stored on mobile phones these days, it would be a shame if you lost it all. Get yourself an app that lets you backup your phone to your PC. If you own an Android device, then one piece of software available for the PC is MyPhoneExplorer. This application also lets you sync your phone contents to Outlook Keep applications up to date It’s possible that this setting is enabled on your phone by default. Authors release updates for their application on a regular basis to improve features, to maybe fix bugs that they have discovered. Always make sure that these are installed. Install Antivirus Software This item is left off most mobile phones yet it is the most vital. After all, your phone is just a phone, right, Actually, your phone is basically a computer. It browses the internet, runs applications, has memory, etc, just like a PC. There are some free ones available on Google Play and also some Anti virus apps that cost money. Here is a list of the more popular vendors (links to Google Play) • Webroot Security & Antivirus • Mobile Security & Antivirus - Trend Micro • Bitdefender Antivirus Free • Norton Security antivirus • McAfee Antivirus & Security • Sophos Security & Antivirus • Antivirus Security - FREE - AVG • Mobile Security & Antivirus - Avast • Search for other vendors on Google Play Switch on Security locks Make sure you enable any security or lock functions available in your phone. A password is better than a swipe pattern as the oil residue left behind from your fingers can eventually show the pattern required to unlock your phone. Use WIFI where possible A lot of apps do download data in the background. For many apps you can configure them only to use WIFI for this. Doing this will save on your mobile data allowance. One thing to be particularity wary of is how your phone gets its GPS location data. Configure this only to get GPS location data fro the GPS satellites only and not from using your mobile data. Configure mobile data limits If you are not on an unlimited mobile data plan, then configure your mobile to notify you when you have nearly reached your limit and to prevent further use of mobile data when you have gone over your limit. If available for your phone, download an app that lets you monitor your mobile data use - preferably by use of a widget. Also, if you take your phone over seas, then switch off roaming data. Otherwise you are heading for bill shock - sometimes costing your more than the original trip. Update the firmware It is important to keep your phone’s firmware up to date. This is because vulnerabilities that may exist in older firmware could be used as an attack vector for malware and viruses. For an android device this can be done over wireless. Make sure you have done a full back up before doing this. To do a firmware update on an android device, make sure your sim card is installed and then go to settings|About device|Software update|update and follow the prompts. Non standard Characters. Use correct characters I know this may be trivial but correct characters do look more professional on a web page (or any document for that matter). For example, enter quotes as “” instead of " (shift ' ). So just how does one create these correct symbols while creating pages. Here’s a list showing you how to enter the most common characters.(incidentally these work in most windows programs as well). Yen 0165 ¥ Euro 0128 € Cent 0162 ¢ English Pound 0163 £ Copyright 0169 © Registered 0174 ® em dash 0151 — en dash 0150 – 1 Quarter 0188 ¼ 1 Half 0189 ½ 3 Quarters 0190 ¾ Accented e 0233 é Divided By 0247 ÷ Micro 0181 µ Middle Dot 0183 · Superscript One 0185 ¹ Squared 0178 ² Cubed 0179 ³ Degrees 0176 ° Open Double Quote 0147 “ Close Double Quote 0148 ”