- Q: How do I stop all
the popups on my screen?
- Q. How can I get a handle
on all the spyware on my system?
- Q: Do you have any
email Spam blocker programs?
- Q: How
do I set up my email to send to "group" mailing lists?
- Q: Can
I view my general system specifications?
- Q: How do I
see how much RAM (memory) my computer has?
- Q: How do
see how big my hard drive is and available space?
- Q: Why
does my system "lock"?
- Q: If my
system locks, what do I do?
- Q: How
can I get email?
- Q: How
do I get on the Internet?
- Q: Where
can I find printer drivers?
- Q: Where
can I find modem drivers?
- Q: How
do I identify hardware components?
- Q: How
can I organize my Windows Start / Programs menu alphabetically?
Q: DSL Questions
- Q: How
dirty are my internal system components by comparison?
-
- Page
Updated: 02/05/09
NOTE: When 'click' is referenced,
this
means single click the left button on your mouse.
Stop Popups -
The most popular browsers (IE, Firefox, Netscape) now have built-in pop
up blockers. They allow you to tweak the settings for allowing
blocking of all sites are modifying if you wish to be allowed popups for
specific sites. Review the 'help' for respective programs for details.
Extensive popups are generally a result of some
form of malware or spyware downloaded to your system from a web site.
If this is the case, additional utilities may be downloaded to assist in
cleanup or a HOC Technician can assist in the cleanup and optimization of
your computer's).
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Spyware
Spyware is one of the most prominent problem
in many operations today, especially home users. The best practice it
to utilize the tools many ISP's are providing with the web browsers they
incorporate in their software products. The generic web browsers are
now also coming with much more protection built in. Another good practice is to
obtain an antispyware from a reputable vendor. Symantec (Norton),
McAfee, and AVG are prominent vendors in this arena. Of course there a
lot of tools now available - just be sure they're legitimate and that you're
not actually loading a spyware problem! There are a multitude of such
tools available so you may wish to research this a bit. If your system is so corrupted the tools are difficult to
even obtain or run, give HOC a call and we'll assist you in resolving your
issues.
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Spam Blocker
The information provided in the Spyware
section can pretty much be applied here (and for Antivirus as far as that
goes). Get a good overall application that covers the entire gamut.
Symantec Internet Security and McAfee Internet Security are solid
tools
For an office environment, Symantec provides Exchange AV
and also has Endpoint Protection and Corporate Edition. These tools
are generally installed and managed at the Server level, supporting network workstations.
Additional settings can also be make on the workstations locally for certain
features of some of the tools.
For top-notch security, placement of a Security Server
itself is quite a valuable tool. This is generally a computer in
itself containing software which all Internet traffic, primarily email, is
passed through. It monitors inbound and outbound traffic, filtering as
defined, and really provides a valuable service. This can get pricy,
but the savings of repairs, crashes, etc. is worth it in a fair sized
business operation. Contact HOC to let us assist you in acquisition,
installation, and management.
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How
do I set up my email to send to "group" mailing list?
Following are
suggestions to set up your email with group mailing lists, allowing you to
send an email to multiple recipients at once. Scroll through and find
YOUR email type for specific steps.
TIP:
Once you've created your group mailing list, when you create a new email message,
in your address book, click on the Group name, then click "BCC" option.
This
step will send the email message to all members who's email is in this group,
and the BCC will not print out all the addresses at the top of the message
when the recipient receives and reads the message.
EarthLink
Mailbox (TotalAccess 2003)
(Note:
This feature is not available in the EarthLink 5.0 version of Mailbox. Upgrade
to TotalAccess 2003 to get this feature—it's free to all
EarthLink subscribers.)
1. Click the address book's File menu and choose New Mailing List.
2. Enter a name for the mailing list in the Mailing List Name field.
3. There are three ways to add people to your new list:
- To add people who are already in your address book: Click the Select
Recipients button. In the window that opens, hold down your Ctrl
key and click the name of each recipient. Finally, click the Add
button and click OK.
- To add a person to the list and to your address book: Click the New
Contact button. Fill in your contact's name, email address, and other
information, and then click OK.
- To add a person to the list only: Enter the recipient's name and email
address in the Name and Email fields, and then click the Add
button.
4. Click OK.
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Microsoft Outlook & Outlook Express (Windows)
1. Click your address book's New button and select New Group.
2. In the Group Name field, type a name for the group.
3. There are three different ways to add people to your new list:
- To add people who are already in your address book: Click the Select
Members button. In the window that appears, hold down your Ctrl
key as you click the name of each recipient. Finally, click the Select
button and click OK.
- To add a person to the list and to your address book: Click the New
Contact button. Fill in your contact's name, email address, and other
information, and then click OK.
- To add a person to the list only: Enter the recipient's name and email
address in the Name and Email fields, and then click the Add
button.
4. Click OK when you're finished.
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Microsoft Outlook Express (Mac OS)
1. Click the New Group button in your address book.
2. Type a name for the group in the Group Name field.
3. Click the Add button.
4. There are two different ways to add people to your new list:
- To add people who are already in your address book: Start typing a
person's name or email address. A menu will appear as you type, allowing you
to select the person you want to add.
- To add a person who is not in your address book: Type an email address in
your address book and press your Return key.
5. To add more recipients, click the Add button and repeat Step 4.
6. When you're finished, click the Save Group button and close the
window.
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Netscape Messenger/Mail (Windows and Mac OS)
1. Open your address book and click the New List button.
2. Type a name for the list in the List Name field. If you wish, you
can also give the list a nickname and a description.
3. There are two different ways to add people to your new list:
- To add people who are already in your address book: Switch back to your
address book window and drag the names of the people you want to add into
the new list window.
- To add a person who is not in your address book: Click inside the list
window, type an email address, and press your Return key.
4. Click OK.
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Eudora (Windows and Mac OS)
1. Open Eudora's address book.
2. Click the New button (Windows) or the Entry button (Mac
OS).
3. Make sure the Personal tab is selected.
4. Enter a short name for the group in the Nickname field.
5. Enter the full name of the group in the Full Name field (this can
be the same as the nickname if you wish; your recipients will see this name
when they receive your message).
6. In the large address field, type each person's email addresses, separated
by commas. If the person is already in your address book, you can type that
person's nickname.
7. Click the File menu and choose Save. Close the address book
window.
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AOL
or COMPUSERVE:
1.
Select: Write / Address Book
/ New Contact
(you
must enter each users email in your address book first - use info from
contact sheet Cindy provided.)
After
individual contact entries, while still in address book:
2.
Select: New Group
3.
Name the group
4.
Go through your contacts list and highlight email address for board members
and click "Add" - you must do this for EACH contact.
5.
Click SAVE when finished.
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System
Specifications
There are a number of tools to assist in really
breaking down your system specifications. General tools available in
respective operating systems are as follows:
Windows XP -
Select: Start / All Programs / Accessories / System Tools / System
Information - a wide variety of system specifications are presented.
Windows 2000 -
Start / All Programs / Accessories / System Tools / System Information - a
wide variety of system specifications are presented.
Windows 98 -
Select: Start / Settings / Control Panel / System - The presented screen
will provide Operating System Version, and on some systems,
memory. The way to see your CPU and RAM is to observe the system at
bootup when the information scrolls on your screen.
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If you're using
a Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, Operating system:
- Select: Start / Settings / Control Panel / System
You may observe your RAM and operating system version.
If you're using
a Windows XP Operating system, excluding XP:
- Select::
Start / Control Panel / Double-click: System
You may observe your RAM and operating system version.
If you're using
a Windows Vista Operating system:
- Select::
Start / Control Panel / Double-click: System
You may observe your RAM and operating system version.
If you're using a
Macintosh:
- Click the Apple icon
- Click Control Panel
- Click Memory
If you're using
a Windows Operating System::
- Double-click on 'My
Computer'
- Left click mouse button on 'C:' drive
- Right click to open sub-menu
- Right Click on 'Properties'
If you're using a
Macintosh:
- Click the Apple icon
- Click Control Panel
- Click
Systems lock for various
reasons. Sometimes, for no apparent reason! One common instance is over-extending
your system resources and/or memory. If you have multiple programs open, which exceeds your RAM
availability, your system may lock. When any program begins running,
it uses up some space in the "system resources" area in memory.
As you exit, some programs do not give back system resources they were
temporarily using. Eventually the system will crash as it runs out of
memory. The crash happens sometimes if you start and close many programs,
even the same ones, without performing a complete shutdown, which clears the
memory. If you try opening programs simultaneously, your
system may lock. Whatever the reason, try to end/abort the locking program
using the CTRL/ALT/DEL option so that
you may get on with your work. Increasing your memory and/or upgrading to an NTFS partition and
associated operating system, such as Windows 2000 Pro or Windows XP which
help manage the memory/resources, will GREATLY increase your productivity.
There are 3 basic steps
HANDS-ON
Consultations suggests for Windows Operating Systems:
Step 1 - Press the
CTRL, ALT, DEL keys on your keyboard simultaneously, ONE TIME.
For Windows
95, 98 (see next paragraph for 2000 and XP) a "Close
Program" window will appear listing currently running programs.
Often times,
the locking program may be identified by a message of "not responding" on the
program line. To end it, click on the offending program and click the "End
Task" button in the bottom of the window. A message prompting you to wait or
end task will appear. Click "End Task". Hopefully, this will 'kill'
the locked program and your system will be available for use. You can repeat this
process for numerous locked programs.
In Windows
2000 & XP * Vista, a "Windows Security" screen will appear, Click the
'Task Manager' button and see if any programs are 'not
responding'. To end non-responding programs, click on the offending program and click the "End
Task" button in the bottom of the window. A message prompting you to wait or
end task will appear. Click "End Task".
Step 2 - If the
previous step 1 did not unlock your system, repeat the step and when the "Close
Program" window appears, click "Shutdown". This will 'soft boot' your
system.
Step 3 - IF
steps 1 or 2 did not work, press the reset button on your computers main case. Upon
boot up, scandisk will be performed to ensure your system file integrity is maintained.
ALWAYS try step 1 first. This is the last resort as system information may be
lost or corrupted performing this task.
Macintosh Computer
- Step 1
- Hold down
the COMMAND-OPTION-ESC keys
This will sometimes free you from an
application that's hung up, without your having to restart the computer. Unfortunately,
this only works if you can still use the Mouse. That's because it opens a dialog box,
where you need to be able to click on the Force Quit button.
Step 2 -
Restart
: Press the
Command-Control-Power On keys
Use this to restart the computer when the
computer freezes and a force quit does not work.
The first step is to
ensure your system has the hardware to support Internet connectivity, specifically an
efficient modem
(dial-up), or Network Card or USB port (DSL or High speed). The next step is to select an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
insuring they have a local access number or high speed availability in your
area. ISP's provide their own email software and
are fairly basic in their set up. Contact us
for more information and assistance.
The first step is to
ensure your system has the hardware to support Internet connectivity, specifically an
efficient modem (dial-up), or Network Card or USB port (DSL or High speed). The next step is to select an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
insuring they have a local access number or high speed availability in your
area. ISP's provide their own email software and
are fairly basic in their set up. Contact us
for more information and assistance.
Where
can I find printer drivers?
There are multiple sites
on the Internet for finding printer drivers for your printer. The best place to go
is the respective vendors web site. Generally you can look under "service"
or "support". You'll be prompted for your model and directed to where you
can download your necessary driver(s). If you have an older or unique
printer and are
having difficulty finding the correct driver, try the following url: http://www.driverguide.com
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Where can
I find modem drivers?
There are multiple sites
on the Internet for finding drivers for your modem. The best place to go is the
respective vendors web site. Generally you can look under "service" or
"support". You'll be prompted for your model and directed to where you can
download your necessary driver(s). If you have an older or unique modem and are
having difficulty finding the correct driver, try the following url: http://www.driverguide.com
