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Today's Tips 08/10/2006
When Working On You Computer Use Antistatic
Straps To Keep Yourself Grounded!
Static discharge is deadly to computer components, especially RAM. Even
though the damage from static discharge is not visible and the part
appears to work correctly when installed, damage may have been done that
will show up in the form of intermittent problems or all-out failure. To
avoid such issues, you should ground yourself when handling computer
parts.
Antistatic straps cost only a few dollars and can be purchased at any
electronics or computer-repair store.
Cathy Chambers
Change the Color, Size, and Font of Individual
Windows XP Elements!
To change the font, size, or colors of individual Window elements,
follow these steps:
1. Right-click an empty area of your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Appearance tab, and then click Advanced.
3. In the Item list or in the preview window, click the Window element
that you want to change. You can select from any of the following items:
3D Objects
Active Title Bar
Active Window Border
Application Background
Caption Buttons
Desktop
Icon
Icon Spacing (Horizontal)
Icon Spacing (Vertical)
Inactive Title Bar
Inactive Window Border
Menu
Message Box
Palette Title
Selected Items
ToolTip
Window
4. Do any of following to achieve the look that you want:
NOTE: Not all options for all Window elements are available. For
example, the Font option appears dimmed and is unavailable for elements
in the Item list that do not display text.
- Under Item:
- In the Size box, specify the size that you want to use for the item.
- In the Color box, specify the color that you want to use for the item.
- Under Font:
- Click the font that you want to use for the item.
- In the Size box, specify the font size.
- In the Color box, specify the color that you want.
- To apply a bold font, click B. To italicize the font, click I.
A preview of your current settings is displayed in the preview window.
5. When you are finished making the changes that you want, click OK
twice to save your settings.
NOTE:
- If you click Window in the Item box, and then modify the font color
for that item, the automatic font color that is available in many
programs is also modified. Any documents that use the automatic font
color are affected if you change this setting. Many programs, including
WordPad and Microsoft Word, use automatic as the default font color. Any
new documents that you create in these programs use the new font color
that you select for the Window item.
To use a different default font color in programs that use automatic as
the default font color, you may be able to create a template that uses
the font color that you want as the default font color, and then use
that template instead of the default template. For information about how
to do this, view the documentation that is included with the program, or
contact the program manufacturer.
- As you modify items, note their appearance in the preview window. Note
that you must use the same font and size for the Active Title Bar and
Inactive Title Bar items, and that bold or italic selections for either
item are applied to both items. If you choose a desktop theme after you
change fonts or colors, the fonts and colors for that desktop theme
override your selections.
Gary Chambers
Change The Default Location Of The My Documents
Folder In Windows XP!
To change the default location of the My Documents folder, follow these
steps:
1. Click Start, and then point to My Documents.
2. Right-click My Documents, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Target tab.
4. In the Target box, do one of the following:
- Type the path to the folder location that you want, and then click OK.
For example, D:\Your Stuff.
If the folder does not exist, the Create Message dialog box is
displayed. Click Yes to create the folder, and then click OK.
-or-
- Click Move, click the folder in which to store your documents, and
then click OK twice.
If you need to create a new folder, click Make New Folder. Type a name
for the folder, and then click OK twice.
5. In the Move Documents box, click Yes to move your documents to the
new location, or click No to leave your documents in the original
location.
Gary Chambers
Hide Drive Letters In My Computer!
Have you ever needed to hide a drive on a system? For example, suppose
you manage a system shared by multiple users in a public area, and you
keep diagnostic and management applications on a separate drive.
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to hide that drive from users to prevent
any mischievous exploration? You can do so with a simple registry edit.
Follow these steps:
1. Launch the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
I don't publish the actual hacks in my
newsletters! You can get this one at my
Customer Support Site!
This is a Free Site that I am combining several sites to. All that
you have to do is register if you haven't already!
6. Using the list below, type a number that corresponds to the drive you
want to hide in the Value Data text box, and click OK.
A: 1
B: 2
C: 4
D: 8
E: 16
F: 32
Close the Registry Editor.
You must restart the system or log out of Windows XP in order for the
change to take effect.
To hide other drive letters that we didn't list, follow the pattern of
doubling the number for each successive drive. For example, drive G:
would have a value of 64.
To hide multiple drives, add the values together. For example, to hide
drives A: and B:, use a value of 3. If you want to hide all drive
letters, use a value of 67108864.
Note:
Editing the registry is risky, so be sure you have a verified backup
before making any changes.
Gary Chambers
Back Up Your Registry When Troubleshooting!
Many of the solutions you'll encounter when troubleshooting a problem in
Windows 2000 require you to edit the registry. As I’m sure you're aware,
if you make a mistake when you do so, you can render the computer
unbootable. For this reason, I recommend that you always back up the
registry first. To back up the registry, begin by opening the 16-bit
version of Registry Editor. From the Start menu, choose Run. In the Open
text box, enter regedit and click OK.
In the left pane of Registry Editor, select My Computer. Choose Registry
| Export Registry File. From the Save In dropdown list, select the
folder in which you want to store the backup. In the File Name text box,
enter a name for the backup file. Below Export Range, verify that All is
selected. Click Save, and then close Registry Editor. You can now safely
edit the registry, knowing that you have a backup in case you need it.
Gary Chambers
Shut Down Woes In Windows 98!
Windows is a great Operating System until it starts to act poorly. Then
it is infuriatingly obstinate. One such occurrence is during Shutdown.
Sometimes, Windows simply hangs, and will not do anything and you must
turn off the computer.
Next time Windows is having trouble shutting down, follow these steps:
Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to bring up the Task screen. This is the menu that
displays all of the programs currently running. Sometimes, one or more
may come up with a message saying that it is not responding. End these
tasks by pressing the "End Task" button. One by one, keep ending tasks
until the only one left is Explorer. Now try your Shut Down.
Gary Chambers
Being Prepared For The Worst Will Stand You In
Good Stead In Case Of A System Meltdown. Your preparation will save you
time and trouble during that nerve-wracking initial stage of disaster
recovery, considerably ease your tension and anxiety, and ensure a
smoother, more focused approach of the final stages.
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