by Dee-Ann LeBlanc
Are there certain programs that you want to start automatically, the moment you log into your computer? Or programs that do start automatically that you really wish would just go away? There are a number of ways to tell your Mac.
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by David Hakala
Sometimes, you will get an error message saying that there is a problem with Windows Installer, or that Windows Installer cannot open an installation package of software. Here is some background on Windows Installer and steps you can take to remedy such problems, you may be able to “repair” it using one of these methods.
Windows Installer is a component of Microsoft Windows that allows software developers to configure installation packages that are easy for users to set up. Several versions of Windows Installer are available, the latest being 3.1+. To see which version of Windows Installer you have,
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by Tina Gasperson
Q: How do you convert HTML and Flash files to PowerPoint? — Kevin
A few tiplets ago I showed you how to convert your PowerPoint slideshows to video files that you could upload to services such as Youtube.com. Now a reader wants to know how to convert Web pages (.htm) and Flash animated files (.swf) into PowerPoint. Kevin, you don’t convert these types of files, you import them as slides. And it’s very easy to do.
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by David Hakala
If you plan to sell, give away, or just toss in the trash an old hard drive, you really should erase your personal data from it first. If you’re like most people, your hard drive contains things you don’t want strangers to see: private correspondence, bank account numbers, passwords, your children’s pictures, names, and where they go to school… think about it, then take a little time to wipe that hard drive really clean!
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by David Hakala
There is a bit of a battle going on among Microsoft Office users worldwide. Some have upgraded to Office 2007 while others stick with Office 2003. The problem is that the default file format in which Office documents are saved is not the same for both versions. So users of Office 2003 cannot open documents created and saved by Office 2003.
“Save it in 2003 format!” they cry.
“No, you upgrade!” reply the state-of-the-art crowd.
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by Tina Gasperson
PDF files are convenient. They’re readable by any type of computer system, as long as that computer has a PDF reader application such as Adobe’s Acrobat Reader installed. They provide consistency in the look and feel of a document that includes graphics and uncommon fonts, so that you can be sure that just about everyone who gets your PDF file sees what you intended them to see. But what if you get a PDF file that needs editing? Since PDF files are intended to be read-only, you’ll need to convert the file into an editable format, such as Microsoft Word, with a special application.
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by David Hakala
As you surf the Web, you may be startled by a window that pops up with a message like one of these:
warning spyware threat has been detected on your pc
spyware threat has been detected on your pc
Sometimes the window jiggles nervously in a way calculated to make you anxious. Always, there is a button to click for a “free spyware scan.”
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by David Hakala
Compact, convenient smart phones are increasingly used in lieu of laptop computers for communication and personal information management when one is away from home or office. Consequently, it becomes necessary to ensure that up-to-date copies of your contacts, email, correspondence, and other frequently accessed information are on your phone as well as your desktop computer. You have to synchronize the two devices.
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by David Hakala
“Virtual PC” is both a Microsoft product name and a generic computing term. The “PC” part refers specifically to Intel x86 hardware platforms, which are the basis of most familiar PCs (Personal Computers). A “virtual machine” is not necessarily an Intel x86-based machine.
A virtual PC allows one to run multiple operating systems on one x86 hardware platform simultaneously. Microsoft Virtual PC is Microsoft’s software for enabling the running of various Microsoft operating systems in a virtual PC environment. You can have multiple copies of one operating system, or copies of several different operating systems running simultaneously. You can switch from one virtual PC to another with a click of a mouse key.
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by Tina Gasperson
If you’re online, you will need to install Java because so many interactive applications use Java encoding, which makes it possible for the applications to run on any kind of computer.
You’ll know if you don’t have Java installed, or if you have the wrong version installed, because the site or application you’re trying to access will tell you that you need to install the latest version of Java. It used to be a bit tricky to find and install Java, but that’s no longer the case. Now, it’s as easy as clicking a few buttons and you’re done.
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