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Computer Tip-off

Computer tip-off compiled by Dr. Arthur Ekka

SEND HTML MAIL

If you did not already know, OE could send HTML, mail or mails that looks like a web page with pictures and sound. To write HTML. mail for mail with stationary as OE puts it. choose to write new message. In the window that pops up, choose format and then RICH TEXT(HTML).Now you can choose to apply stationary by going to format apply stationary and choose what you want, or you can add your own stuff.

AUTO MAIL CHECK

OE can be left running to automatically check for E-mail, and then play a sound notifying this mail. To have OE automatically check mail, go to tools and then Options. Then put a check next to HAVE OE CHECK FOR MESSAGES EVERY X MINUTES where x is how many minutes you set. Then above that check play sound when new messages arrive.

RECOVER DELETED FILES ---------------------We all make mistakes.
DOS6.x gave us tools for undeleting
files we accidentally blew away. But Windows 95 and 98 are not so forgiving. They give us the recycle bin, figuring we will not empty it by mistake. But what happens if we do so? Is there any way out? If you upgraded to Windows 95 or 98 from DOS and still have your DOS undelete. exe utility, the answer is yes. Here is what you have to do. The moment you discover that you have deleted a file you need, stop what you are doing. If continue to use your disk, the file may disappear permanently. Select start, shut down. click Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode, then click yes When your PC restarts navigate to the folder where the deleted files used to be. To allow the undeleted utility to access the disk directly, type c:(your drive letter may differ) and press enter. Type Y and press enter to acknowledge the scary message( but do not worry: we will not leave the disk locked for long). Now type undelete and press enter, follow the prompts to restore your file .When you have restored your file and back at the DOS prompt, type unlock c: to prevent further direct disk access. Then type exit to return to Windows.

NON STOP MUSIC

Inserting music files in each slide of a power-point presentation is no problem. But running continuous music on the whole set of slides can be a tough nut to crack. This is how it is done Start the sound on the first slide ( for any slide) and have it continue through the remainder of the slide show. To see how this works, run Power Point and open a blank slide. Choose Insert Picture, Clipart and place a picture or two on the slide. Press Ctrl-M, then press Enter to create a new slide. Place some pictures of the text on the new slide and create another new slide. Create at least five or six slides this way. Now go back to the first slide and choose Insert Movies, and sounds. Sounds From File. Select the sound file you would like use for the show and click OK.
Use the mouse to move the sound icon out of the way. Right click the sound icon and choose custom animation. When the custom Animation dialog box opens, click the Timing tab and then select the Animate and Automatically radio buttons. Leave the time set to 0 seconds and click play settings tab, select the continue slide show and After radio buttons. Set the number of slides in your show.
Next, click more options. When the Play Options dialog box opens, select the check box labeled Loop until Stopped and click OK. Back in custom animation. Click OK to close the dialog box and apply your settings.
The music should now play throughout the slide show. Choose Slide Show, View Show to start up your show.

SCROLLBAR SIZE

Do you find the scrollbars in your applications and dialog boxes too small to grab onto? Windows 98 lets you make them as big (or as small) as you want. Right click the desktop select properties, and click the appearance tab. Under Item, select scrollbar, adjust the size using the up arrow, and watch your change in the preview. When you like what you see, click OK to keep the change.

MOVING WITH F6

When you are in a double-paned Explorer window and want to move to another pane, or to the dropdown list of folders ( on the toolbar), you probably reached for the mouse. But that is not the only way to get around next time, try F6. Pressing this key takes you from the left pane to the right pane, to the dropdown folder list, to the left pane, and so on, round and round.

FIX_IT_PATCHES

Install a patch that eliminates security vulnerabilities in two active X controls (if you use MSIE 4.0 or 5.0)
www.micro-soft.com/security/Bullitins/ms99-032.asp.
Microsofts TechNet, covering all its security Bulletins:
www.micro-soft.com/technet/security/
To download a viewer for Microsoft word docs ( and avoid opening macros), go to the URL, below and do a keyword search on viewer:
www.microsoft.com/downloads/derault.asp
Overall virus issues relating to Microsoft Office:
officeupdate.microsoft.com/Focus/Article/viruses.htm Viruses in the wild: www.wildlist.org
Virus-related hoaxes:
www.kumite.com/myths.ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html


DISK SPACE INFO

To determine the amount of space on your computer, use the right mouse button and click on the My Computer icon. Then click properties.
You should see a pie graph representing the amount of free space on your computer. You will get a clear idea of how low you are on disk space.

WHAT IS STARTING UP

While your computer is loading, by default a Windows screen should be displayed. You can see what programs are being loaded by pressing the Esc key while the Windows 95 Startup Screen is being displayed. Do this if you suspect your system isnt running prperly. If it isnt, you will see some error messages that should give you a hint about what the problem might be.

CLEAN UP YOUR ACT

Fingerprints, dirt and especially scratches can have drastic effects on the readability of your CD-ROM, especially with the DATA CDs. Always make sure to keep the CD surface clean, away from dust and free of smudges. Also remember to hold the CD from the edges.

MANUAL MODEM

You can manually send commands to your modem. This is useful if you need to test to see if your modem is working properly.

Go to a DOS command line.

Type echo atdt>COMx.

Where x is the number of the comport you are testing. So if your modem is in COM3, you must type echo atdt>COM3.

The sound of a dial tone is a good sound and means that your modem is working properly.

Cancel the dial tone by typing echo ath>COMx.

SELECT CD DRIVE

If you have more than one CD-ROM drive on your computer, the CD player
Program will give you the choice of drives from which to play music CDs.
You can permanently select one drive to use all the time. Go to

START/SETTINGS/CONTROL PANEL
And double click the MULTIMEDIA ICON.
Click the CD Music tab from the multimedia properties dialog.
On the CD-ROM Drive drop down list, select the drive you want to use (by default) for your music CDs.

RESTART, UPDATE and GO

After installing new applications or changing settings, Windows may need to be restarted sometimes, even if you arent asked to do so, restart anyway or exit to DOS. This way, if the new application has incorrectly changed any system files, Leaving your computer unbootable, you will get to know immediately.