Computer tips!!

[RATTER15]

If you had to give anybody just one single tip or piece of advice concerning computers, what would it be?
Include operating system concerned if appropriate.

please make this for all user levels, not just the novice or experienced, we can all learn a bit more

Did you know that if you .......................

Please leave a reply if you learn anything interesting or useful !!

Please try and keep it a little serious (excluding bobtheduck of course) this could be a very useful source of information!!

[Ethel]

Read the manual.

[RATTER15]

Ethel, do really think all those problems you help people with could be found in a manual!!!

It would be one hell of a manual!!!!

[pauln90]

If you dont understand something -ASK- DO NOT mess with program files & do not delete items willy nilly

[RATTER15]

and mine would be: read the terms and conditions when signing up for any site especially if its a free site, it there that you will see that they are going to be selling your email address to everybody.

That's how you get bombarded with spam etc!!!

[RATTER15]

Ethel, I have just read my response to your post, it sounds like I was having a dig, I wasn't!!!

Sorry!!!

I was really singing your praises for all the hard work you put in to your answers.

You really are a wealth of information!!

[crete]

im interested in any tips available. but please anyone who answers to keep it simple.

[Gromit]

Name documents and files properly.

Change versions and/or dates in renaming a piece.

[whiffey]

Windows - right-click everywhere you can - you'll discover features you never knew were there.

[jake-the-peg]

Back up your stuff and do it regularly.

Computers break down and get stolen - do not think it won't happen to you - It will.

How many irreplacable documents, photos, contacts etc. do you have on there?

[WaldoMcFroog]

Learn to use shortcut keys to speed up your computing experience immeasurably. Common ones:

CTRL + S - Saves Document
CTRL + W - Closes Document
CTRL + A - Highlights all
CTRL + X - Cuts/ deletes highlighted text/ item
CTRL + C - Copies highlighted text/ item
CTRL + V - Pastes text or item previously copied.
Windows Key + D - Go to Desktop
Windows Key + E - Opens Windows Explorer
F1 - Help
F2 - rename file
F5 - refresh screen/ data

[tezestwing]

Hi RATTER15 That is a brilliant idea but in some way this is already being done by the ABs that post valuable info like Ethel and others to questions, but just to add to your quest if I may and that is to have tips on it the very basic things that would interest me and maybe others for examples are-: clearing history eveytime before shut down, vetting web page privacy policies when you go onto the site, get a free Google tool bar the spell check is brill ,up dating your anti this and that's,there must be lots more and I have got them all from reading ABers posts,keep up the good work. HTH Tez

[Ethel]

Use Firefox as your browser. Take the time to understand all of the features and customise it to suit your own needs.

[vehelpfulguy]

I agree with jake-the-peg.

BACKUP YOUR DATA.

Backup up personal files like documents, pictures, mp3s etc to a CD or DVD on a regular basis.

And make TWO copies of each CD or DVD.

I make 2 copies of each CD or DVD when I do a backup and I am glad I did.

The other day I tried to add some more files to a CD using Nero and got an error it could not "fixate". The backup stopped and the CD was then unreadble.

Luckily I had a spare with the same data on it..

[rojash]

Ethel's first reply reminds me... Back in '89 we launched a new product without a printed manual. We got loads of complaints about the lack of a manual, and loads of support calls. After we spent a fortune on having a professionally written, designed and printed manual, the support calls didn't reduce, the questions were the same. All we got was the dubious satisfaction of quoting the section, page, and paragraph where they could have found the answer if they could have been bothered :-)

[vehelpfulguy]

In addition to my suggestion above, and based on regular questions we get here on AB, here are some other suggestions:

1) DONT upgrade from XP to Vista. You will gain very little and may even finish up with a PC that does not work, or has parts of it that dont work. Give Microsoft a year to sort it out.

2) If you dont know what you doing DONT just delete programs and files "hoping" it will fix your problem. Under the covers Windows is a VERY complex program and lots goes on that even us experts do not understand.

3) If you are going to re-install Windows (any version) make sure you have all the drivers you need BEFORE starting the upgrade. Also make a note of any userids and passwords and email settings you use, and save your browser favorites.

4) It is VITAL to run a FIREWALL, and it is VITAL to install an anti-virus program and update it and run it regularly. Copies of both programs are available for FREE on the web.

5) Before making any major changes to Windows XP take a "backup" of the status of Windows using System Restore. That way you can go back to a previous level of Windows if anything does wrong.

[rojash]

Having said that, my tip would be: "if you have a problem, don't jump to conclusions, and do make a note of all the relevant info before seeking help."

Imagine this conversation with a doctor: "I'm sick, what's wrong with me?"
"Well, what are your symptoms, and when do they occur?"
"I dunno"

And yet we frequently get questions on here like "Why can't I send e-mails? It says something about an error." - no indication of contents of error messages, operating system, e-mail client, etc.

[rojash]

Here's anothe one: "Show me a person who claims they don't need anti-virus, and I'll show you a machine that's always crashing"

... and another: "Show me a technician who says you need to reformat your hard drive to fix a software problem, and I'll show you a guy who's in the wrong job"

[Ethel]

Always try the simple solution first. Turn everything off, then back on again.

It can be like magic.