Some Tips and Tricks

 

Sleep & Hibernation Mode in Windows

What is sleep (Stand By)?
Sleep is a power-saving state. Sleep saves all open documents and programs, and allows the computer to quickly resume full-power operation (typically within several seconds) when you want to start working again. Putting your computer to sleep is like pausing a DVD player: the computer immediately stops what it’s doing and is ready to start again when you want to resume working.
To put your computer to sleep, click the Power button on the Start menu or click the arrow next to the Lock button.

The Sleep option is located on the Lock menu

On Windows XP go to Start then select Shut Down and click on Stand By.

You can typically put a mobile PC to sleep by closing its lid. Some computers also have a physical sleep button on their cases, often located near the power switch.
Depending on your computer's power management settings, you computer may also automatically go to sleep after a period of inactivity to conserve energy. To adjust these settings, see Change, create, or delete a power plan (scheme).
While your computer is asleep, its hardware lights may slowly flash or change colour. This is normal.
On most computers, you can resume working by pressing the power button. However, not all computers are the same. You may be able to wake your computer by pressing keys on the keyboard, clicking your mouse button, or opening the lid on a mobile PC. Check the documentation that came with your computer, or go to the manufacturer's website.

What is hibernation?
Like sleep, hibernation is a power-saving state. But while sleep typically saves your settings in memory and draws a small amount of power, hibernation saves your open documents and programs to your hard disk and then turns off your computer. Of all the power-saving states in Windows, hibernation uses the least amount of power.
To put your computer into hibernation, click the Start button , click the small arrow next to the Lock button , and then click Hibernate.
On Windows XP go to Start then select Shut Down on Stand By press the Shift Key down and click on Hibernate.
Windows automatically puts a mobile PC into hibernation mode when the computer's battery grows critically low.
On a mobile PC, use hibernation when you know that you won’t use your mobile PC for an extended period and won't have an opportunity to charge the battery during that time.
On most computers, you can resume working by pressing the power button. However, not all computers are the same. You may be able to wake your computer by pressing any key on the keyboard, clicking a mouse button, or opening the lid on a mobile PC. Check the documentation that came with your computer, or go to the manufacturer's website.

How can I wake my computer from sleep or hibernation?
On most computers, you can resume working by pressing the power button. However, not all computers are the same. You may be able to wake your computer by pressing any key on the keyboard, clicking a mouse button, or opening the lid on a mobile PC. Check the documentation that came with your computer, or go to the manufacturer's website.

Why in XP can't I find the Hibernate option on my computer or it is grey and not available?
If the hibernate option is missing, your system administrator may have turned it off. To turn it back on:
1. Open Power Options by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, and then clicking Power Options.
2. Click the box that says “Enable Hibernate”.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click OK, to save changes.

 

The Ultimate Reference on Security & Privacy on your PC
Click HERE to open and save the pdf document.

Outlook Express Tip:
How can I find my Outlook Express email folders so that I can back them up:

Click HERE to discover where Microsoift have hiden you email folders.

Backing Up Your Computer
Link to use Microsoft XP backup tool (available on XP Pro, need to install on XP home editon.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/backup.mspx

When printing from the web.
Highlight what you want to print ( easy way to highlight: click in front of first word of the text, move down to end of text, hold the shift key down, then click at end of text )
Go to file > print click on selection and then ok.  It will just print what is highlighted

Short cut key strokes
The more one uses the keyboard rather than the mouse the more efficient you will become, especially those who are typists.  Constantly going from the keyboard to the mouse takes extra movement and time.

There are many short cut key strokes that facilitate making commands.

One such is:
Look closely on the menu bar (under the title bar of the window) you will notice that each word, i.e. file, edit, view, etc has a letter underlined. In file it is the f, edit it is the e. format it is the o.
They are obviously there for a reason.
If you hold down the alt key, third one in at the bottom of the keyboard and press the corresponding letter that menu will open, much easier than going over to the mouse.
Now in the menu look closely again and you will see each command also has a letter underlined.  If you press that letter the window will open corresponding to that command.  Yes you need the alt key to open the menu but once in the menu then just the letter is sufficient.  I.e to get the print window:  press alt f then p and you will have the print window!!   Give it a try see if you can get into the habit of using the letters rather than the mouse.

Computer Tip:
How can I make all my applications open in maximized form? And how can I quickly maximize any window from the keyboard?

You can tweak the properties for any shortcut to specify the way you want it to open—Normal, Minimized, or Maximized. Right-click the shortcut and choose Properties from the pop-up menu. The drop-down list labeled Run is the one that controls this setting. Change it to Maximized and click OK.

This setting is just a request from the operating system, so it doesn't have any real teeth. Windows will inform the program that you want it to launch Maximized, but the program may or may not comply. If it doesn't, don't worry. There is a simple key combination you can use to maximize the active window. Press Alt-Spacebar (which opens the system menu at the window's top left) followed by X, the shortcut key for Maximize.

Google Tip: Use a Colon

Search engines have gotten so good that I sometimes forget that they offer fantastically useful syntax for more specific results. I'll point these out from time to time, but here are my top three most useful Google search modifiers that use a colon:

site:URL and search term. As in, site:www.pcmag.com "wireless router." Insiders point out that this modifier is even stronger if you drop the www. You can also drop the domain name entirely and search, for example, only .gov sites.

define:word. This brings up definitions, related phrases, and offers to translate the word.

filetype:file extension and search term. It may be obvious, but this lets you search for files with a certain extension, such as PPT for a PowerPoint presentation on your topic.

To Highlight Using the Arrow Keys

Hold Shift key down + Arrow keys Up, Down, Left or Right. Position your cursor at the beginning of the area you wish to highlight for copying. Now use the up, down, left or right arrow keys to select areas to be highlighted.

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The Windows key has Microsoft logo on it, is normally located between the Ctrl and Alt keys on most keyboards. However, some vendor keyboards and some laptops do not have this key.

Windows Key:           Opens the Start menu

Windows Key + D:    Minimizes all windows and goes to the desktop, (repeat and then restores all Windows).

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Select multiple files:

Files in a row: click on first file, hold shift key down, click on last file in row

Files not in a row: click on first file to be selected hold control key down then click on all the other files to be selected

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Working with two applications and want to see them together on the screen at same time.
1. Have both pages opened.
2. Right click a black space on the taskbar (bar at bottom of monitor)
3. Click on tile vertically and you will see the two pages side by side on the screen.
You can also drag and drop from one page to the other as well.
Really helpful for translating.

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 Google Alerts:
     You can set an alert for all types of topics:
     To monitor a health problem
     To monitor a developing news story
     Keep current on a competitor or industry
     Get the latest on a celebrity or event
     Keep tabs on your favourite sports teams etc.
     Alerts will be sent to you via your email.

 

    Create an alert:
    Go To  Google > more > even more > (top left) alert.
     Put in your topic > choose: news, blogs, web, groups, or comprehensive
     Put in email address > create alert

Tutorial Files that can be downloaded: