Monday, January 15, 2001		Article

Tips & Tricks for Windows
Part 1

EVEN those persons who do not use a computer are aware of Microsoft Windows. However, despite awareness about the Windows, a majority of computers users cannot claim that they know everything about it. This is primarily because most of the persons use it only to the extent they require it and hardly try to explore other features. But if you explore Windows more you will find lots of new features and uses.

Normally persons from the engineering background, which also includes science students, need scientific calculators for various purposes and majority of persons who use scientific calculator keep it with them for the purpose of complex calculations. However, you do not need a scientific calculator separately if you have a computer. Scientific calculator is present in the computer only. All you need to use scientific calculator in your computer is, open the calculator by clicking at Start> Programs> Accessories> Calculator. Now click on the view menu and select the scientific calculator. This will open a scientific calculator in place of a normal calculator on your computer.

Though over the past few years, Windows operating system has seen many generations, yet, our way of working has not changed. Consider this: If you have to print any file, what will you normally do? Mostly all of us will trouble ourselves by searching that document in the computer and open it and then we would give the print command. But hang on! This method of giving a print command is a part of history as you can now simply print a document by dragging and dropping it on your printers’ icon. To put it in simple words, create a shortcut for printer on desktop. You can create a shortcut by simply clicking Control panel and then opening the printers’ button item. Now in the printer’s window, right click on printer’s icon. This will open a drop-down list. Choose create short cut and this will make the short cut on desktop. Now locate any file from your Windows Explorer and simply drag it to the printer’s short cut created on the desktop. This will start printing your document. Alternatively you can also create a short cut by simply dragging your printer’s icon from Printer Window in the control panel. This method of printing is helpful especially in cases, where you may have to work in multi-Window environment as multiple Windows reduces the speed of computer and this method saves one Windows. So, this method of printing is far more convenient.

As far as convenience is concerned, Windows is a synonym of it. But a number of persons feel that double-clicking the mouse every time you open an application is a major inconvenience for them. For all those persons who feel the same way, here is a simple solution. Click on the Start menu. From Settings select Folder options. The General tab on the Folder options offers three choices: Web style, Classic style, and Custom. You can configure your PC for single-click by selecting either Web style (which also changes the appearance for open windows on your desktop), or by selecting Custom, clicking Settings, and then selecting Single-click under the "Click items as follows" section. On clicking OK, you will get rid of double-clicking your mouse for opening any application.

Normally persons complain that their hard disk gets filled soon. I remember the time when 540-GB hard disk used to be a luxury. Then came 840-GB hard disk. People felt at that time that probably they would never be able to fill that much space.

However, with the increasing capacity of the hard disk capacity the requirement of people also grew and now even the 20 GB hard disk has started looking tiny in front of the hard disks with much higher capacities like 30 GB. So lets face this truth that we will never have enough disk space.

For more prudent computer users, this will merely look a lame excuse of mismanagement of precious hard disk space. In fact, you never realise but a majority of hard disk is normally wasted for non-required components, files, icons and short cuts. Some of these space-filling items get loaded, either with Windows or programs like Netscape communicator and Real Player. Though having Netscape communicator on the computer for the purpose of Web browsing is a great idea, but other programs like AOL instant messenger, Free offer from America Online simply occupy computers space and are not relevant for you. Similarly with Windows also icons for some online services are created, which are not relevant for any purpose. Thus, it is better to remove such kind of programs from your computer. This will not only clear desktop but will also create a lot of free hard disk space.

To remove these online services, which are automatically loaded in computer, drag the Online Services desktop shortcut to the Recycle Bin. Then from Control Panel double click on Add/Remove Programs. Then select the Windows Setup tab. Select Online Services and click Details. Clear the services you don’t want and then click OK. Click Apply and then OK. This will free up some of your hard disk space.

For having more free hard disk space, you can also delete the *.tmp files from your temp folder on a regular basis. These files are not required by computer, but sometimes consume a lot of hard disk space. Similarly you can also search and delete all *.bak files to clean up your computer and create more space.

Another major area, where persons complain is while shutting down the Windows. Normally, Windows ’98 does what is called a "Fast Shutdown" so you can turn off the computer quickly. If these enhancements keep causing problems, you can disable this feature. The procedure for disabling this feature is simple. Click Start menu>Programs> Accessories>System Tools, and then click System Information. On the window, which now appears, click on Tools menu and select System Configuration Utility. On the multi-tabbed dialog box that appears, select General Tab, and then click Advanced button. On the dialog box that appears, check Disable Fast Shutdown. Now click OK. This way you can disable the fast shut down feature of your Windows ’98, which a majority of persons misunderstand by errors.

Talking of Windows, without talking about the Net will not do justice to the whole idea. Today one of the primary usages of computers is for Internet surfing. However, since every second counts in case of the Internet, thus speed matters right since the time you dial ISP. But against the desire there could be several bottlenecks, which could also start right from dialling the ISP.

Generally in many cases, a user’s computer experiences delay from the time when you finishes logging onto your ISP to the time when Windows displays the Connected box. This is primarily due to the fact that there is a check box, clicked for logging on to your computer’s network, which causes the delay. In order to fix this problem open the Dial-Up Networking properties for the Internet connection. For example, in case of Windows ’95, click Start >Programs>Accessories>Communications>Dial-Up Networking. In case of Windows 98/NT/2000 you can access Dial up networking directly from "My Computer". Now right-click on the Internet connection method (ISP) and select Properties from the pop-up menu that follows. When you see the resulting dialog box, click Server Types tab. Uncheck Log on to network under Advanced options. Click OK to close the dialog box. This reduces the time lag in getting hooked on to Internet and on an average saves 10 seconds of yours.

— Roli