Free Computer Tips Archive

Remove a homepage tab in Internet Explorer 7

Internet Explorer 7 lets you add as many homepages to your browser as you like. However, sometimes I get carried away and have way too many, and this is when I have to remove at least a few. Here's how to Remove a homepage tab in Internet Explorer 7.

Free Computer Tip no.87

Create keyboard shortcuts to open your favourite programs

Did you know you can create your own keyboard shortcuts to open up your favourite programs, webpage's, and folders.. It is really easy. You can make a shortcut from any icon on your desktop. Here's how. Create keyboard shortcuts to open your favourite programs

Free Computer Tip no.86

Customize your DVD movie menu with Nero

When transferring a movie on to a DVD disc with Nero, there are options to customize the dvd movie menu that you will see when you insert the dvd into a player. You can change the layout, background, buttons, title, font, and more.

The first thing you can change for your dvd movie menu is the theme of your menu. You can choose a category from the drop down menu. For example you can choose an event such as Camping, Barbeque, Birthday , and more. If you want to change more details of your dvd movie menu you should press on  Edit Menu, which is located below your preview. Customize your DVD movie menu with Nero

Free Computer Tip no.85

Convert your AVI movie file to DVD or CD using Nero 7 Essentials Recode

Please be aware that, in some countries, it is illegal to even backup a dvd movie that you have bought and paid for. This tutorial is to help convert your home movies only.

I realised that the first tutorial I did on this subject was performed with Nero 7 essentials V7.5.13.1. This did not suit some users that had just the plain old Nero Essentials. I did not realise that the two were so completely different!! Therefore this tutorial applies to Nero 7 essentials OEM cd which comes with most dvd or cd burners. It is only a 30 day trial version, but it does the job.

Follow my instructions to convert your AVI movie file to burn to DVD, Cd or even a flash drive. Convert your AVI movie file to DVD or CD using Nero 7 Essentials Recode

Free Computer Tip no.84

How to use DVD Decrypter to rip a DVD movie

DVD Decrypter is a handy free program that can be used to rip a dvd into a file to then shrink and burn to dvd disc with dvd shrink. Wether it is legal to use this program in your country is your responsibility to find out. Some Countries allow you to backup an original DVD movie that you have bought, however others do not. How to use DVD Decrypter to rip a DVD movie

Free Computer Tip no.83

All about the Windows XP Control panel

The Windows control panel is the main area where you can access most of the main settings for your computer. To get to the control panel, go to the start menu and it will be listed there. Click on the screenshot to see the Windows control panel in classic view. All about the Windows XP Control panel

Free Computer Tip no.82

Folder Options in the Windows Control Panel

Folder options in Windows Control Panel has some very important folder and file settings there. There are so many that I am only going to mention my favourites.

1. Show or hide the blue sidebar that you see when you open any Windows dialog box. For example when you go to my computer you will see other options in the side blue menu. Like view system information, add or remove programs, change settings, and more.. To enable or disable the common task sidebar go to folder options>General Tab>Tasks>then make your choice. See more about Folder Options in the Windows Control Panel.

Free Computer Tip no.81

Change your drive letter in Window XP

Although the drive letters A and B are reserved for floppy disk drives, every other letter in the alphabet is available to be assigned to the hard drives in a computer. The main hard drive, by default, is always C drive. When you add more hard drives or cd drives, Windows Xp assigns a drive letter to them automatically.

If you don't like what drive letter Windows XP has assigned, it is your choice to change it. I usually like the hard drives set with drive letter that run in a row. For example, I have 2 hard drives with drive letters C and D. The cd drive and dvd drive are E and F. Change your drive letter in Window XP.

Free Computer Tip no.80

How to see what files a computer is sharing on your home network

If you have a home network, you can share files between computers on your network. To view the files that a particular computer is sharing follow these instructions. How to see what files a computer is sharing on your home network

Free Computer Tip no.79

What should you have a home computer network?

I know we all survived quite nicely in the past, without a home network, and even only one computer per household. However now days, most households have more than one computer and in this case, why not setup a home computer network. The benefits of having a home network.

Free Computer Tip no.78

How to show your Network connection icon in the taskbar

If you want to see the Network connections icon on your windows taskbar, it is very easy to do. It can be quite handy having the Network connections icon there for you to see as it will let you know if there is a problem with your connection. The Network connections icon will let you know if you have low connectivity, an Ip address conflict, or even if you have no internet connection at all. How to show your Network connection icon in the taskbar

Free Computer Tip no.77

Easy way to find another computer on your home network

People often neglect the obvious, and this is definitely one of those tips that has been right in front of you the whole entire time. You might not be able to find a computer on your home network and this little trick might just help. Here's the Easy way to find another computer on your home network

Free Computer Tip no.76

File sharing between Windows XP and a Vista computer

Seems there are a number of people having problems sharing files between their Windows XP and Windows Vista computers. Me included. So after some research and playing around, I have finally worked out how to share my Vista files so that XP users can access them. With the release of Vista, the default workgroup is MSHOME, not WORKGROUP like it is in XP. So make sure both PC’s are on the same workgroup before attempting to share files between XP and Vista. In XP, go to Control Panel > System. Then on the “Computer Name” tab, click the change button, and edit the workgroup to be the same as Vista (MSHOME). More..

Free Computer Tip no.75

Windows Stops Responding When You Run Disk Defragmenter

Sometimes when you attempt to run Disk Defragmenter in Windows, your computer stops responding and sometimes even shuts down. If this problem is not solved even after you have run Scandisk, then maybe you have a serious problem. The disk defragmenter can also come up with a message saying that it could not move all the files on this volume. I had this message one day and thought it was ok. Who cares if disk defragmenter couldn't move a file, however when I looked at the report log it told a different storey. It had only moved one file and had 1899 that it couldn't move. Now that was not good. What happens when Windows Stops Responding When You Run Disk Defragmenter

Free Computer Tip no.74

How To Enable Printer and File Sharing on your home network

Before you share a printer or any files on your home network, you must enable or share these items. Here is a detailed, step by step tutorial on how to enable file and printer sharing.

Free Computer Tip no.73

Windows Stops Responding When You Run Disk Defragmenter

Sometimes when you attempt to run Disk Defragmenter in Windows, your computer stops responding and sometimes even shuts down. If this problem is not solved even after you have run Scandisk, then maybe you have a serious problem. The disk defragmenter can also come up with a message saying that it could not move all the files on this volume. I had this message one day and thought it was ok. Who cares if disk defragmenter couldn't move a file, however when I looked at the report log it told a different storey. It had only moved one file and had 1899 that it couldn't move. Now that was not good.

Free Computer Tip no.72

How to make your Digital Camera Batteries Last Longer

A few years ago I started selling on Ebay, Which in turn, demanded the use of a Digital camera. I would take at least 50 photos a day, and sometimes up to 100. You would not believe how many batteries I went through until I realised how to save and preserve my precious digital cameras battery life. Take it from me, I never loose that great photo opportunity because my batteries have unexpectedly run out. Tips to make your digital camera batteries last longer.

Free Computer Tip no.71

Recovering deleted Pictures from My Digital Camera

Thoroughly empathising with what I had read about transferring pictures from my digital camera, I planned to load the pictures of a recent weekend excursion. When I tried to transfer the pictures from the digital camera to the computer, I realised that the memory card had been wiped clean. My spouse informed me that he had mistakenly erased it all. It was a saddening revelation, for I felt it was impossible to recover the lost photos.

Free Computer Tip no.70

How to transfer photo's from your digital camera to your computer

The benefits of having a digital camera are endless. You can take pictures, choose to delete them or save them, then transfer them to a computer, all without having to develop anything. Transferring the photo's from your digital camera is usually an automatic process, however if the scanner and camera wizard does not pop up follow this step by step article to enable it.

Free Computer Tip no.69

Where is the automatic Scanner and camera wizard

Sometimes when you plug your digital camera into your computer via USB, it will make the usual noise, saying its connected, but nothing happens. Oh no.. What do you do now? This is not a problem. When you connect a plug and play digital camera into your computer to transfer photo's it is usually set to automatically start the wizard to extract the pictures. If the automatic scanner and camera wizard is not opening follow these instructions:

Free Computer Tip no.68

Remove The Blogger Nofollow Attribute Tag

Have you heard of the relatively new "nofollow" attribute that webmasters are using to stop links on websites from being followed. This can mean that a link can be clicked on to go to your site, however it will not register as a backlink with the large search engines.

When you have a blogger website there is a "nofollow" attribute included on all comments. You can remove this form your blogger website by editing the template html. Here's how to remove the blogger nofollow attribute tag:

Free Computer Tip no.67

Remove The Blogger Top Navigation Bar

I tried numerous ways to get rid of the ugly and annoying top navigation bar on a Blog I was developing. Here's the easiest way that worked for me. It turned out to be very easy after I finally found the information about how to do it.

Free Computer Tip no.66

Remove your URL from Google

Here is a great video tutorial from Google featuring Matt Cutts. He explains step by step why you may need to remove a URL from the Google index and how to do it. He goes into detail about the different ways you can remove your url and the best ways to do it. He also mentions robot.txt, nofollow, htaccess, and more. See the video here.

Free Computer Tip no.65

How to set up a wireless home network with all computers sharing the same internet connection

Why not make the most of your internet connection and setup your own wireless home network. Now days you can buy all of the equipment necessary for a wireless home network from your local computer or electronics shop. Just think how great it would be, not having to have all those annoying cables running around your house. See how to set up a wireless home network.

Free Computer Tip no.64

To find your mac address in Windows XP

Your computers Mac address or physical address can be used as a part of your wireless network security. If you have this security enabled, your router will only let the computers in with the corresponding mac address to access the network.

Free Computer Tip no.63

Getting the most of both your router and Wireless Network

If you’re downloading a large files and it’s coming to it’s end, you’re receiving a Skype call from a client in London, without warning, your Wi-Fi connection drops, leaving your download and VoIP call in havock. You’ll retry the wireless connection, but your router, though blinking contentedly in your tense, seems to be off. After three hour, for no reason, your Wi-Fi connection miraculously resurfaces. Here are some tips to prevent interference with your wireless network.

Wireless networking can be a easy and yet gives you a headache, It’sgreat when it works and a mind-numbing frustration when it doesn’t. A common complaint among many who have moved to Wi-Fi is that their wireless connection mysteriously fades in and out the frequency.

Free Computer Tip no.62

Finding a wireless network to connect to

You could be sitting at a bus stop, at McDonalds family restaurant, or just a friends house visiting, it doesn't matter. As long as there isn't security in place on the wireless network, you can connect. Most DIY home wireless networks are not configured correctly, and therefore can be a accessed. If you are at a friends house you may have to ask for the password or WEP key. Here's how to find a wireless network to connect to.

Free Computer Tip no.61

How find the IP Address of your router to configure it?

You will need to access your router to configure its settings when you are setting up a home network. Every different brand of modem has a different Ip Address which can be found usually by searching the internet. For example I have a D-link router so I would type the model in google to find the ip address. I would type DI-524 factory Ip Address to find the answer. Read more.

Free Computer Tip no.60

How to improve your Wireless Network Security

Wireless network security is the hot topic on everyone lips at the moment. Not only are the big business and corporations using wireless network setups, but the average home user has it as well. It has become the way that everyone would like to connect to the internet. And why wouldn't you? A wireless network setup eliminates all of those cables and cords running from one computer to the next, and it makes you mobile.

As most individuals and business sectors are connected to the Internet using wireless devices, unless you have wireless network security, you simply don’t know when your personal information will be compromised.

Therefore having wireless network security procedures in place has become an important aspect of everyone's internet  experience.

Free Computer Tip no.59

Recovering deleted pictures from my digital camera

Thoroughly empathising with what I had read about transferring pictures from my digital camera, I planned to load the pictures of a recent weekend excursion. When I tried to transfer the pictures from the digital camera to the computer, I realised that the memory card had been wiped clean. My spouse informed me that he had mistakenly erased it all. It was a saddening revelation, for I felt it was impossible to recover the lost photos. Wondering if a solution was possible, I scanned the web. Here, I read about the possibility of recovering deleted pictures using the DIY recovery software.

Free Computer Tip no.58

Improve your wireless network security

Wireless network security is the hot topic on everyone lips at the moment. Not only are the big business and corporations using wireless network setups, but the average home user has it as well. It has become the way that everyone would like to connect to the internet. And why wouldn't you? A wireless network setup eliminates all of those cables and cords running from one computer to the next, and it makes you mobile.

As most individuals and business sectors are connected to the Internet using wireless devices, unless you have wireless network security, you simply don’t know when your personal information will be compromised.

Therefore having wireless network security procedures in place has become an important aspect of everyone's internet  experience.

Free Computer Tip no.57

Remove Dust From Your Computer

Recently I have been getting a lot of jobs that involve blown up computer power supplies due to a dust build up. Heres how to remove dust. The average computer user does not realise how important it is to keep your computer clean, inside and out, and that they can do this themselves. Read these articles to find out how to open a computer case safely and how to clean inside your computer.

Free Computer Tip no.56

How To Clean Your LCD Screen

When your LCD needs to be cleaned, the best way to do it is with a diluted isopropyl alcohol solution made of water and at most 50% isopropyl alcohol. A word of warning, though. Never use any other cleaners, especially those that contain ammonia, such as glass cleaners. Ammonia can damage an LCD screen and leave it looking cloudy. Also avoid paper towels, since they can easily scratch an LCD as they drag dirt and paper particles over the surface of the screen; that's why it's so important to use the softest cloth you can. Read more on how to clean your LCD screen.

Free Computer Tip no.55

Free Online Education

You can learn anything and everything on the internet. Just type what you want to know into Google Search. How to build an outdoor deck, Ideas on how to renovate your house, How to repair your own Computer, How to help your children with their maths homework, how to fix a car, how to install a stove, How to save money, you name it, you can learn it on the internet. See more about a free internet education.

Free Computer Tip no.54

Remote Assistance

If you have Windows XP it has built in remote access software that helps you connect to a friends computer, by invitation, to help them by taking remote control of their computer system. This means you could be in the USA and be helping your friend in Australia to find a solution to his or her computer problems. How cool is that? Find out how to use Remote Assistance on your computer.

Free Computer Tip no.53

How To Use DVD Shrink To Backup a Movie

The Keyword here is backup because it is illegal to copy DVDs. We all know you are allowed to make a backup of your own DVD movie for safe keeping, and for personal use only. DVD Shrink is the best FREE program that will do the job for you. See How to use DVD Shrink.

Free Computer Tip no.52

How to get Screen Shots

Ever wished you could take a picture of the computer screen to save for later. Sometimes I come across a great webpage and want to print something out to read later. However some websites disable you from copying or printing their text and pictures. This is when I take a screen shot. You can save this file and print it or view it when ever you like. I am not breaking copyright laws because I just want to read it at my leisure. Here's how to get Screen shots.

Free Computer Tip no.51

Device drivers

A driver is a small software program that helps your computer identify and run particular types of hardware. You need drivers for onboard video, an agp video card, or even a usb storage device. When you purchase a new computer it should always come with a device driver or system disk and Windows usually takes care of the common and generic drivers.

Free Computer Tip no.50

Connect to your Friends Computer

If you have Windows XP it has built in remote access software that helps you connect to a friends computer, by invitation, to help them by taking remote control of their computer system. This means you could be in the USA and be helping your friend in Australia to find a solution to his or her computer problems. The technology to gain remote access to basically anyone's computer is available on most computer users start menu. I regularly give my friends remote computer assistance from the comfort of my own home.

Free Computer Tip no.49

Add a Network Printer

Now days the average household has more than one computer and share available resources over a home network. No-ones wants their house cluttered up with unnecessary office equipment, and this is exactly the reason why we need to use a network printer. For example if you have three computers on your home network you would only need one printer for them all. Windows XP and Vista allow you to use computer hardware that is connected to another computer on your Network. Here's how to add a Network Printer.

Free Computer Tip no.48

What is an External Hard Drive

An external hard drive is the ultimate backup device. How much data it stores depends on how big the hard drive is inside the external case. If you find that there is not enough storage space you can simply remove the hard drive and replace it with a bigger one.
Most newer type external hard drives connect to the computer via a USB cable. Most computers have a front USB port and therefore make it easy to plug and play or use an external hard drive.
 

Free Computer Tip no.47

What is a CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, or a DVD-RW

To find out which format your dvd burner is compatible with check its properties. My DVD burner shows DVDRW because it is compatible with nearly every type of disc including CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL. To find the properties right click on the icon in my computer and choose properties from the menu.
 

Free Computer Tip no.46

Add a Show Desktop Icon to the Task Bar

This is a handy little trick that I recommend for every computer user out there. Clicking on the show desktop icon will minimize every window that is open to show your DESKTOP. How great is that. You won't have to close all the separate Windows to get to the icons on your Desktop.
 

Free Computer Tip no.45

How to burn a Cd using Windows XP

Backup your data easily by burning a cd using the inbuilt cd burning program in Windows XP. It is as easy as dragging and dropping files into a folder.
 

Free Computer Tip no.44

Problems with your Broadband Internet Connection

Everyone knows how annoying it is when your internet connection drops out or it just won't work at all. It always happens just when you have to urgently have to send an email or do internet banking. I have listed some troubleshooting ideas I have used when my internet connection goes down. Now days the newer computers will tell you exactly what the problem is and will fix it for you if possible. However this does not always work.

Free Computer Tip no.43

Basic Computer Terms

Isn't a desktop simply the top of your desk? No wonder the average person gets
confused and stressed when confronted with computer terminology. This language has taken on a path of its own, using words such as cookie, ram, mouse, hardware and more. However don't panic yet, just read this article and soon you will be speaking the language.

 

Free Computer Tip no.42

What is computer memory or RAM

Without getting too technical here, the computer memory stores temporary information for the computer to have easy access to it. The hard drive stores the permanent information. Therefore when you open a program it is loaded to the RAM (Random access Memory) and is stored there while you use it. When you close the program it is saved to the hard drive until you want to use it again.

Free Computer Tip no.41

How to Upgrade Your Computer Memory

Now days the programs we run on our computers are becoming larger and larger every day. Some games are as big as 500MB or sometimes more. For example, Microsoft recommends at least 128MB of memory for Windows XP; 256MB is better, however, I think you need 512MB at the minimum..
One of the most simple ways to upgrade your computer to cope with these programs is to add more memory. However some computer technicians charge pathetic amounts of money to perform this relatively easy procedure. Don't waste your hard earned money on a task that a monkey can perform. Just follow the steps below to do it yourself . It's inexpensive, easy to do, and it can dramatically improve the performance of your pc.
 

Free Computer Tip no.40

What are file extensions

File extensions basically let you know what type of information is contained in a particular file. For example a note pad file has the .txt extension. This means it is a text file. See more File extensions.

Free Computer Tip no.39

Computer Maintenance Checklist

People often forget that their computer needs to be maintained for it to run at its optimum levels. Here is a checklist for you to follow. You should also make cleaning inside your computer a part of the computers maintenance.

Free Computer Tip no.38

Dirty tricks Webmasters use with Reciprocal Links

When you first build a web site you need to show the search engines that your site is popular, and that other web site owners want to link to you. It is really hard to get webmasters to put a link to you without wanting something in return. Therefore we exchange reciprocal links. The webmaster puts a link to my page on his and vice versa.
However these reciprocal links are not always what they seem to be. Here is a list of evil tricks that webmasters use to avoid actually putting your link on their page.
 

Free Computer Tip no.37

Computer has a Black Screen

Rarely do I come across a problem with a computer that I cannot diagnose, however getting a black screen on boot can stump me sometimes. I always try to troubleshoot the problem manually, without using those fancy programs, because I believe it is the only way to learn.
There are two types of black screens that can appear. One that will have a beep sequence sounding to let you know what the problem could be, and the other has nothing at all. No beeps, no cursor, no logo screen, and no choice to boot to safe mode or access the bios.
 

Free Computer Tip no.36

What commands can you type into the Run Window

The Windows Run command dialog box is an extremely useful tool as it can open just about anything you want. You just have to know the special commands to type in. You can get to the RUN dialog box by pressing the Windows key and R. OR In Windows XP go to Start Button and open Run from there. In Windows Vista go to the start icon in the left corner and when the start menu appears type in the bar at the bottom. More about Run Commands..

Free Computer Tip no.35

How to replace a hard drive

When your computer hardware components, such as your hard drive, dies or you just need to upgrade, don't pay big dollars for a computer technician or IT guy. You can do it yourself! Once you have done this you will realize how easy it is. Read more on how to install a hard drive.

Free Computer Tip no.34

Jumper pin settings on a CD rom or a Hard drive

When installing a CD/DVD rom drive or even a hard drive, there are some tiny little pins at the back that sometimes need to be adjusted. If you do not have the jumper in the correct position, your device will not be recognised by the computer. Here's how to set your jumper settings.
 

Free Computer Tip no.33

Installing a CD or DVD drive

Installing a CD or DVD rom drive would have to be the easiest upgrade or repair job you can do on your own computer. Computer Technicians charge you at least fifty dollars an hour when you could probably complete this task in about two minutes. Install your DVD or CD drive.

 

Free Computer Tip no.32

How to create a bidding frenzy at your Ebay Auction

My theory is that once you have a customer viewing your Ebay auction, shop or website, you need to hold on to them. In your Ebay auctions you need to have links to anywhere and everywhere to do with your items. Links to your shop, similar items you have for sale on Ebay, your About me page, and more. If it is an auction put a link to a similar item but make it Buy It Now. Some people are impatient and want it now. This sounds like a lot of links but be subtle. Check my auctions to see how. http://stores.ebay.com.au/Fantastic-Bits-24-7 And see how to create that bidding frenzy.

Free Computer Tip no.31

Ebay Auction buying and selling tips

Not only I am obsessed with computers, the internet and components, now I absolutely love Ebay as well.
Ebay. Who would have ever thought it would grow to these astronomical proportions! Once you’ve completed a few transactions without being burned, it becomes a comfortable place to both buy and sell products. So simple but so attractive.
Most people start off as a browser, and then become a user, and finally they join the addiction or love club. I definitely qualify for the love club as I have quit my job and I am now making my living on Ebay. I am not alone.
 

Free Computer Tip no.30

Disabling Automatic Startup Programs with Msconfig

If you don't want certain programs or applications to run automatically on startup, there's an easy way to disable them. You simply use the command msconfig to get to the system configuration box to change settings.

Free Computer Tip no.29

Can you make money with Google Adsense

This is the big question on everyone's lips. Can you really make money by putting google adsense on your web site or are all those success stories just a myth? Well some people have made huge amounts of money from placing Google's targeted ads on their web page, but it is still a lot of hard work. This biggest myth may be that making money with Google adsense is easy.

Free Computer Tip no.28

Get Targeted traffic to your website

Everyone wants and needs targeted traffic to their site. Especially now that is so simple to make small to large amounts of money from Google Adsense. All you have to do is get them there. You want visitors to your site who are already interested in your site's topic and who are more likely to benefit from your site's content or products.

Free Computer Tip no.27

Basics of inserting links in HTML

I am one of those people that use a program like Microsoft FrontPage or Dreamweaver for a HTML editor. This is great but sometimes they do not do what you want and you need to insert some basic HTML into your project. I tried to avoid having to know even the basics but I am constantly needing to use them. Its all about trial and error. You could try pasting some of these into your web to see what happens.

 

Free Computer Tip no.26

How to Enable and Disable cookies

What is a cookie? Usually thought as some kind of biscuit, however in computer language it means something completely different. A text information message that is stored on your computer when you visit a web page. When you return to the page the cookie is used to recognize you. It records information such as your name, site login password, preferences, shopping cart info, and more..

Free Computer Tip no.25

To buy or build a computer? That is the question

Even though a new computer is really cheap now, building you own computer is still a cheaper option. The new parts are available at rock bottom prices for everyone. The only thing that beats these prices is to buy an up to date, second hand system. Buy or Build compared.

Free Computer Tip no.24

Tips on how to choose the right office chair

Who cares about a simple office chair you say? Well it seems that people have finally realized just how important the right chair can be and not only for the office worker, but also for the average home user too. People are now spending as much time sitting in a chair in front of a computer as they do in their own beds.
According to extensive studies on the subject, the right office chair creates a productive workstation that maximizes the efficiency and quality of an employees’ work. Why wouldn't you want your employee to be comfortable and avoid common injuries like back problems, strain injury, and carpal tunnel syndrome. These problems are mainly caused by un-natural posture positions..
 

Free Computer Tip no.23

Recover Your data on a scratched cd. Tips and Tricks!

Even though cd's and dvd's are practically disposable now, there is always a precious cd you cannot afford to have damaged. Here are some of my tips to prevent loss of your favourite cd's.
Prevention comes first. Care for your CD's or dvd's by handling and storing them correctly. Even your sticky fingerprints can damage layers of a cd's surface. For extra precious cd's you should definitely create a backup copy of it. If you do this there is no need to read the rest of this article.
 

Free Computer Tip no.22

Turn your music mp3 player into a portable stereo that rocks!

Remember the good old days of beat boxes and portable walkmans. Well forget them because just like the LP record, the cassette tape, and soon the cd player, they can all be labelled as obsolete. The future of music and how we listen to our favourite songs has changed greatly. The simple Mp3 player does it all.

Free Computer Tip no.21

Where is the automatic Scanner and camera wizard

Sometimes when you plug your digital camera into your computer via USB, it will make the usual noise, saying its connected, but nothing happens. Oh no.. What do you do now? This is not a problem. When you connect a plug and play digital camera into your computer to transfer photo's it is usually set to automatically start the wizard to extract the pictures. If the wizard is not opening follow these instructions:

Free Computer Tip no.20

How to show hidden files in Windows XP

Windows hides certain files to protect the data from being tampered with or destroyed accidentally. However sometimes we need to access these hidden files or folders.

Free Computer Tip no.19

Showing Super Hidden Files In Windows Vista

To show Windows Vista "super hidden" files, that is, those files that are normally hidden from the user, you'll need to access the registry editor.

Free Computer Tip no.18

What features does Windows Vista have?

When windows Vista was released it came in more than one version. This video from CNET shows the difference between them all and some special features that come with only certain versions. This is a great video clip to watch if you are thinking of upgrading to Vista.

Free Computer Tip no.17

How to transfer photo's from your digital camera to your computer

The benefits of having a digital camera are endless. You can take pictures, choose to delete them or save them, then transfer them to a computer, all without having to develop anything. Transferring the photo's is usually an automatic process, however if the scanner and camera wizard does not pop up follow this step by step article to enable it. Where is the Scanner and Camera Wizard?

Free Computer Tip no.16

How to share files with other computers on your Network

File sharing used to be something reserved for the professional office network, however now days it is available for the average home user as this feature is included with Windows Xp Home and Pro. It isn't that hard to setup either. See the easiest way I know to share files.

Free Computer Tip no.15

How to find your computer name

There will be times when you need to know your computers name. This is not the same as your user name. The most common thing you will need it for is file sharing. First we have to open the System Properties box.  Here's how to find it.

Free Computer Tip no.14

How To Open a computer case safely

People often think it is very dangerous to play with electrical items and this should be done by a professional. This is true, however now days everyone has their hands, literally, inside a computer case.
Different cases open in different ways. For example a desktop may have two clips or buttons on either side, and when pressed, the case slides off. A tower may need to have screws removed at the back to enable the sides to slide off. Cases are now being designed with easy access as a top priority. Here's how to open a computer case safely.
 

Free Computer Tip no.13

How to clean your computer safely, inside and out.

How often do you clean inside your computer case? Did you realize that this is a necessity for the computer to run at its optimal levels? Having dust and dirt build up inside your computer can restrict the airflow and cause serious damage to your components. One common example is when dust gathers on the heatsink and fan. If left there it can eventually cause the processor to overheat and shutdown the computer without warning. Here are my tips for cleaning inside your computer.

Free Computer Tip no.12

How to organize your computer filing system

When you first get your computer it is beautifully clean and tidy and runs like a well oiled machine. After a while, however, it becomes a bit more sluggish each and everyday. Saving all those files, no matter how big or small, all add up and contribute to clogging up your computer. The best way to tackle this problem is to keep your computer organized and clear of unnecessary files. You need to implement a file management system. Here are some tips on how to get organized.

Free Computer Tip no.11

How to check your hard drive disc for bad sectors and errors

Everyone should regularly check their hard disk drives for things like errors, incorrect file structure, lost clusters and bad sectors. Performing this task every so often can prolong the life of your hard worked hard drive. In windows you can easily access tools to check the health of your hard drive. 

Free Computer Tip no.10

Safely Remove or delete programs from your computer

New computer users commonly seem to think that to uninstall a program, you simply dump it in the recycle bin. Well this only gets rid of the desktop shortcut, not the actual program. Even if you go into Program files to the folder where the program is and delete that, there will always be more files scattered in other places. Safely delete your programs.

Free Computer Tip no.9

To buy or build a computer? That is the question

Even though a new computer is really cheap now, building you own computer is still a cheaper option. The new parts are available at rock bottom prices for everyone. The only thing that beats these prices is to buy an up to date, second hand system. Buy or Build compared.

Free Computer Tip no.8

How to Import and Export Your Email Contacts in Outlook Express

It is easy to import and export your email contacts in Outlook Express and you should do it as often as you can. My email contacts are extremely important, as there are not only my friends email addresses, but also my business email contacts. To backup your email contacts takes about a minute of your time, so here's how to do it.

Free Computer Tip no.7

How to use Outlook Express Message rules to auto respond to email

If you have a business and you want to provide great customer service and do some email marketing, you can use your Outlook Express email and its message rules to auto respond to emails in your absence. For example if you have a website and an email comes in saying someone has purchased an item, you can set a message rule to auto respond for you.
The first thing you must do is create that particular email that you want to use as the auto responder. For example you could create an email saying thank you to the customer for their purchase.
 

Free Computer Tip no.6

Use message rules as a spam filter to stop junk email

If you are familiar with using Outlook Express message rules you will already know how amazingly handy they can be. Did you know that you can use this program as a spam filter. I create a message rule for nearly every email that enters my computer, therefore when spam or junk email comes in, it stands out because it has no-where to go.
Using message rules as a spam filter is one way to control unwanted junk email messages from entering your computer. Here are some ideas on how to use your rules effectively. Sometimes just adding a sender to the block senders list is not enough.
 

Free Computer Tip no.5

Dirty Tricks Webmasters use when you exchange a reciprocal link

When you first build a web site you need to show the search engines that your site is popular, and that other web site owners want to link to you. It is really hard to get webmasters to put a link to you without wanting something in return. Therefore we exchange reciprocal links. The webmaster puts a link to my page on his and vice versa.
However these reciprocal links are not always what they seem to be. Here is a list of evil tricks that webmaster use to avoid actually putting your link on their page.
 

Free Computer Tip no.4

How to Use Remote Desktop to connect to other computers on your Network

Your network may consist of simply two computers that run off a router that is connected to the same modem. Or maybe you have a more elaborate network, but either way Remote desktop can be handy sometimes. It enables you to access the others computers on your network by Using the computers information. For example you need the IP address, the user name, and their password.

Free Computer Tip no.3

Costs to consider when listing an item in an Ebay Auction

Listing fees can turn into a creeping hidden cost. You have to keep track of all the dozens of different ways they can add up. The basic listing fee alone, varies according to what price you start your item at. Then you can add a gallery picture, make the listing bold, feature it, highlight it, and a lot more. You get cheaper listing fees if you have an Ebay store and list your item as store inventory. Consider the Costs.

Free Computer Tip no.2

What to use to Backup your computer files and data

Now days there are a few different ways that you can backup files and data. You can backup your data to a CD or DVD, external hard drive, USB flash drive, print it out, store it on a web server, or even on the internet.
To Back up your files, it is a very simple task to perform. It is just a matter of copying your files and pasting them into a folder.
 

Free Computer Tip no.1

How to defrag your computer

When you install programs your computer scatters files all over the place. Therefore it needs some organisation and for this we use the Windows system tool called Disk Defragmenter. This utility examines your files and places them in areas together, therefore making it easier to access. It also puts the most frequently used programs in an area for quicker access.

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