10 Awesome Computer Tips Everyone Should Know

Here are some useful tricks to help you be a more efficient and knowledgeable computer user:

1.     Windows+L: Locks your computer
2.     Windows+P: Quickly sets up a second screen and/or monitor
3.     Windows+D: Minimize all open windows
4.     Windows+Tab: Switch windows
5.     Control+F: Opens a search box where you can search through text on a web page or document
6.     Control+Enter: Wraps whatever you type into a browser with the “http://www”  before and “.com”  after it
7.     Control+Shift+N: Opens up incognito mode in Google Chrome
8.     Click on your mouse wheel to open a link in a new tab
9.     When you install something, watch what you’re doing instead of just NEXT, NEXT, NEXT through everything. A lot of programs will install annoying toolbars by default, which take up space on your screen and are difficult to remove.
10.     Utilize programs such as CCleaner  and Defraggler to keep your computer running in optimal condition.

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A Simple Trick for Picking (and remembering) a Good Password

Pick a line from a book you enjoyed  OR something that resonated with you enough to stick in your head.

Throw in some dictionary attack protection, like a string of numbers or special characters, and you’ve got yourself one monster of a password that would take a hacker significantly longer to guess than the passwords we’re all used to using.

It’s easy to remember, compatible with cryptic password hints that don’t completely give it away, and quite secure (so long as you don’t pick something you’re going to be quoting on Facebook).

You can use this to break away from a bad password reuse habit.

Note : Don’t forget to write down the website with the book you got the password from to jog your memory in case you forget.

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Change User Password Without Knowing the Current Password in PC

If you want to change the user password of Windows in your computer but you don’t know the current password, there is an easy way to do this. First of all, the user that you are on has to be an administrator user. To determine what type of user your are logged in with go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts. At the bottom of the window you will see the different users that are on your computer. Find your user and under the user name it will say what type of user account you are. Your user needs to be a computer administrator to change the password without knowing the current password.

Let’s get started!

1. Click on the Start button and select “Run”

The Run window will appear. Type into it the text, “cmd” (without the quotes). Click OK

2. The CMD window nd will appear. Type “net user”

A list of all the users that are on the computer will appear.

3.  Type the following: net user *

For example, if the user I want to change passwords for is Mike, I would type in:
net user Mike *

4. Press enter and you will be asked to type in a new password.

Type in your new password. The cursor will not move nore will it seem like anything is happening but your new password will be entered.

5. You will be asked to confirm your new password. Enter it again and press enter.


Hope you have enjoyed this trick:)

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How To Replace Laptop Accessories

There are a lot of important laptop accessories that can improve the whole function of a laptop. In some cases, these accessories should be replaced with the new one. It is very important for people to learn how to replace the laptop accessories in the correct way. This is very vital to avoid any problems or damages on the laptop in the future. In this article, there are several popular accessories and how to replace them with the new one. These accessories are chosen because they are very popular among all computer users. Almost all users have these laptop accessories.


1). Laptop keyboard cover:

This accessory is very popular because it can improve the protection on the laptop. There are a lot of different styles and models of this laptop keyboard cover. Most products are specially designed in order to prevent any scratches or damages on the original laptop keyboard. In some cases, this keyboard cover should be replaced with the new one.

 This product can tear because of the intensive or excessive use. People can simply open the keyboard cover before replacing it with the new one. However, they have to be very careful when opening this cover. Then, they have to purchase a new keyboard cover. They have to measure the keyboard size before purchasing the new keyboard cover. People can simply attach the new keyboard cover to their laptop keyboard. It is necessary to avoid the use of any water because water can damage the laptop.

2). Laptop power jack:

Laptop power jack is an important part in a laptop. This accessory is very useful to conduct the electricity for the laptop. This power jack is very fragile. It can break off very easily. When this situation happen, people should open their laptop in order to replace the broken power jack with the new one. First, they have to remove the battery back from the laptop.

 It is vital to unplug the power cord on the wall outlet. Then all screws should be unscrewed in order to open the laptop before removing the hard drive of the laptop. There is a laptop power jack inside the laptop body. This accessory is usually located on the motherboard. Replace the broken power jack with the new one. After replacing it with the new power jack, people can simply put all parts, including the motherboard, hard drive, battery, and any other laptop parts, back to the original condition.

3). Laptop batteries:

Laptop battery is another important part in a laptop. There are many problems that may occur in most laptop batteries. Most batteries can last for at least one year before getting any problems. When people have any problems with their batteries, they should replace them in the correct way. Replacing a laptop battery is not as complicated as what people thought.

People can simply remove the old battery with the new one. It is very simple to remove the battery from a laptop. In some laptop models, people can simply press the release button to remove the battery easily.

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Laptop Screen Cleaning Tips

Laptops are designed to be carried between locations and it's this portability which makes them an all-purpose machine. Even though laptops are made from tough components they can still be broken if dropped or if treated incorrectly. And one of the areas which is most prone to damage is the laptop screen.

Laptop screens should be treated carefully. They are essentially an active matrix display using either CCFL or LED lighting technology. This can be broken if dropped or the thin film protecting the display can be scratched if it is not cleaned correctly.

Some of the cleaning tips which should be employed when cleaning a laptop screen include:

Never use alcohol-based cleaning solutions:

It's a good idea to NEVER use any alcohol or solvent-based products to clean your laptop screen. The screen may not be made from glass and if it is instead made from a plastic-type material contact with alcohol or solvent solutions may damage the screen.

Don't use tissues or paper towel:

It's best not to use tissues or paper towel to clean a laptop screen. Both these products contain tiny wood fibres, which no matter how small, may leave tiny scratches on the screen if it is repeatedly wiped using these items.

It's best not to use water:

Although water is inert and is a good cleaning medium, using plain water on a laptop screen may leave watermarks on the screen due to the minerals inherently found within its make up.

Never spray the screen - always spray the cloth:

Microfibre cleaning cloths are the best things to use to clean the screen but if you are using a spray cleaning solution don't be tempted to spray the screen. Water sprayed onto the screen may work its way into the screen behind the screen bezel. There are lots of electrical connections behind the bezel which won't take kindly to being doused with water.

Don't rub too hard:

Even if you use a microfibre cleaning cloth the screen may be damaged or scratched if you rub too hard. If you have a stain on the screen it's best to let it soak by damping it with solution rather than trying to wipe it away at the first time of asking.

You can use commercial screen wipes:

If you want a quick and easy way to clean a laptop screen it's worth buying a tub of ready to use screen wipes. These will be sealed in a packet or a tub and will be slightly damp, so marks can easily be removed. These wipes will have been rigorously tested on screens already and will provide a safe and effective way to clean the screen.

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How To Move Off Screen Windows Back On The Visible Screen

If you use your laptop with an external monitor and you make that monitor primary, you always need to remember switching the settings back to the initial ones before disconnecting that monitor. If you forget, you’re in trouble, because the Display Properties window doesn’t show on your screen, so you can’t access the display settings (I’m talking here about Windows-operated computers). This is very tricky, because the Display Properties box doesn’t show in the taskbar, so you have no chance to use any menus that may show up when you right-click that tab.


This is what you need to do for bringing your off-screen window back on screen :

1. Right click anywhere on the desktop (on the free space, not on icons). 

The following menu will appear
       
      2.  Left click on Properties (last item on the menu that will show up after your previous command)
      3.  Press F10 on the keyboard (this will move the current cursor position on the Display Properties  window which you can’t see yet)
      4.   Press Down Arrow on the keyboard (this will activate the following menu, which you also can’t see, but I’ll show it to you here, so you realize what I’m talking about)

•  (Notice that the current cursor position is already on the Move item)
•     Press Enter. The Move command is now selected (but you also can’t see because the box is positioned off-screen).
•     Press either left arrow or right arrow on the keyboard.
•     After pressing any of the arrows once, just start moving the mouse left or right, until you see the Display Properties box on the screen.
•     When you’re happy with the new positioning of the box, left-click once and you’re done, you can now make your laptop screen primary again and thank me for saving you from disaster.

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Tips for Maintaining Your Laptop

Nowadays, many people are using laptops for their school work, business or leisure. However, laptops can lose their efficiency if not well-maintained. The following are some tips which will help enhance your laptop usage.

1. Watch out for dust

To ensure your laptop remains effective for a long time, you need to protect it from dust. An accumulation of dust in your laptop could block the ventilation areas and result in overheating. It is therefore very important to keep your laptop from being exposed to dust.

2. Keep it cool

Besides dust, it is also very important to protect your laptop from excessive heat. A laptop used in a cool, dry area will work more effectively and faster than if it was exposed to heat. To protect your laptop from overheating, avoid using it on your lap, bed or cushion since this will block the vents underneath which help in cooling. The best solution for this is to use a lap tray as a base for your laptop. Alternatively, you can invest in any of the laptop coolers which are sold in most computer stores.

3. Install a firewall and antivirus software

If you don’t use any antivirus, your laptop remains vulnerable to being infected by a virus. Make sure you use proper antivirus software to protect your laptop and keep it effective for longer. You should also install a firewall so as to restrict access to your laptop. A firewall will alert you anytime an external entity tries to access your laptop. You will then have the option of either blocking or allowing access. In addition, you need to be cautious about using external hard disks and flash disks with your laptop.

4. Eliminate unused programs

At times, you might have some programs in your laptop that you don’t really need. It is advisable to uninstall them so as to create more space in your hard drive. This will enable you to install other important applications and programs. Eliminating unused programs will also improve your laptop’s performance and make it easier to locate important files.

5. Defragment hard drives

When you have many programs in your laptop, it will take time to locate your important files. It is therefore very vital to defragment your drives frequently. Defragmenting will arrange your files in a way which makes them much easier to access.

6. Clean your registry

Once in a while, registry files might get corrupted thus resulting in a drastic and sudden change in your laptop’s performance. Make sure you run your registry cleaners frequently to find out if there are any corrupt files or errors.

7. Minimize programs to run during startup

Whenever you start your laptop, it will load all the system files, as well as the programs which have been selected to run during startup. The more programs you run, the longer it takes to startup. You should therefore minimize the number of programs that will run during the booting process.

8. Delete temporary internet files

Slow browsing speeds are often as a result of poor internet connection. However, in some cases, it might be due to too many temporary internet files saved in your laptop. You should therefore take time to delete such files from your laptop.

9. Empty the recycle bin

When files are deleted from your laptop, they end up in the recycle bin. This means that they are not actually deleted from the laptop; they have just been transferred to a different location. Thus, they still take up space in your hard drive. It is therefore important to empty your recycle bin as often as possible.

10. Power surge protection

Power surge protection is as important for laptops as it is for desktop computers. Replacing a laptop power supply is very costly compared to investing in a power surge protection device. Make sure you get one so as to protect the laptop itself, as well as your laptop power supply.

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Computer battery buying tips

Main batteries

Laptop batteryThe main battery is the battery used to power laptop computers. When looking to purchase a new main battery from a third-party make sure you're getting the correct battery. Verify the below specifications either from the bottom of the battery or from the computer manufacturer.

    Type - Get the right battery: Nicad, NiMH, or Li-ion.

    Manufacturer - Some portables may use a certain manufacturer of battery. Verify if a third-party manufacturer's battery was used. Also ensure that the battery is not proprietary and that it is possible to purchase from a third-party.
    Voltage - Verify the Voltage of battery, this amount can vary depending on the battery.
    mAH - Verify the mAH of the battery, this amount can vary depending on the battery.

Warranty

Before purchasing the battery, see if the battery comes with any warranty and how long the warranty may be. This will make things easier if it's defective that it is possible to return the battery for a new battery or for a refund.

Prices

Battery                           Estimated price

1 NICAD Battery              $80.00 to $150.00
1 NiMH Battery                $100.00 to $160.00
1 Li-ion Battery                 $100.00 to $180.00

Prices can vary depending upon quantity of batteries and how old the laptop is.

Where to buy

Your laptop computer manufacturer is the best first place to get a price quote on a replacement battery. After doing this check any of the below links to get a price quote comparison and find the cheapest solution.

Ebatts.com
Batteries Plus
BatteriesInAFlash
Laptop batteries planet

Charge the battery properly

Once you have received the battery if it includes documentation for how to charge it for the first time make sure to follow those instructions exactly. Otherwise it's recommended that you charge the battery for at least 24-hours before use.

Recycle

See the battery recycling section for further information about properly recycling your old defective battery.

CMOS batteries

Picture of CMOS lithium battery on motherboardThe CMOS battery is used to store system information such as the time and date and should be replaced when receiving error "System battery dead", the computer does not keep the time or date, or if you are losing a dramatic amount of time over a period of time.

Before replacing the CMOS battery you need to know what battery the computer is using. This can be done either by opening the computer and locating the battery or through the motherboard or computer documentation. We suggest visiting a local Radio Shack if you've got the battery but can't identify it or to purchase a new battery.

Prices

Battery                             Estimated price

CMOS coin battery               $1.00 to $10.00
CMOS RTC battery              $2.00 to $20.00

Prices can vary.

Bridge batteries

The bridge battery is a small battery that holds a charge for a sufficient amount of time while swapping between main batteries. If you believe that this battery is defective or bad, it is recommended that you contact your laptop manufacturer for a replacement part.

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Computer application buying tips

Introduction

Purchasing a software application or program can be a big consideration, especially when purchasing advanced and usually expensive programs such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop. When considering purchasing these programs it is important that you or your staff be familiar with the program and are sure it's going to be capable of what you need it to do.

On this page we've listed several different considerations to think about before buying a computer software application

Considerations

Competition

Before buying any application make sure there is not a competing program that may be cheaper or even free. If available and something that's capable of doing what you want it to do this could save you hundreds of dollars.

A good example of such a program is OpenOffice and Corel WordPerfect that would be a competitor to Microsoft Word. Both programs are an excellent choice for a word processor but can be a considerable price difference. In the case of OpenOffice, it's 100% free.

Documentation

Make sure proper documentation is included. Many programs today will include on-line documentation that is more than sufficient. However, it is also useful to obtain a manual or user guide for the software program or application.

Licenses

If you are a company who plans on having software programs used by its employees (more than one person), you will need to consider licensing options. It is required that for each computer a product is installed onto that it have a software license. If a company purchases the program and shares it with all its employees without the proper licensing, this would be illegal and can cause your company to face a criminal lawsuit.

Price

Look at your overall price and shop around. Because a software price can change often, you can sometimes save hundreds of dollars on expensive software. If possible, do not purchase directly through the company; many times, the company's price doubles a retailers price.

Be cautious of OEM software. Many resellers will sell a program as OEM, which requires you buy a computer or motherboard. OEM software is software that is included with large manufacturers' computers and will only include either just a CD or a slim manual and CD. This is not what you would find at a retail store. This option is not a bad option, it is only important that you are aware of what you are getting.

Package

Look at the overall software package. How many CDs or diskettes are included, what inserts and documentation is included, and is there any bonus or extra software included?

Media

Today, the majority of software is included on CDs and DVDs. When looking at a program, make sure you have an acceptable drive that's able to read the media, While not common today, an example of why this is important is it's better to receive one CD instead of 32 floppy diskettes.

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Windows function key shortcuts

Below is a listing of keyboard shortcuts that use the keyboard function keys. See our what are F1 through F12 keys page for a full listing of what function keys do with all other programs.

F1

Activates help for current open application. If you're at the Windows Desktop, this will activate the help for Windows.

F2

Renames a highlighted icon, file, or folder in all versions of Windows.

F3

Starts find or search when at the Windows Desktop in all versions of Windows.

F4

In Windows 95 and later this opens the drive selection or address bar when browsing files in Windows Explorer.

    Pressing Alt + F4 closes the current open program window without a prompt in all versions of Windows.
    Pressing Ctrl + F4 closes the open window within the current active window in Microsoft Windows. This will only work in programs that support multiple windows or tabs in the same program window.

F6

While in Windows Explorer, this will move the cursor to different Windows Explorer pane or in Windows 7 browse available drives.

F8

Pressing F8 over and over as the computer is booting will start the computer in Safe Mode.

F10

Activates the File menu bar in all versions of Windows.

    Simulates a right-click on selected item. This is useful if right-click is difficult or impossible using the mouse.

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General Windows keyboard shortcuts

 Alt + Tab

Switch between open applications in all versions of Windows. Reverse the direction by pressing Alt + Shift + Tab at the same time.

Ctrl + Tab

Switches between program groups, tabs, or document windows in applications that support this feature. Reverse the direction by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Tab at the same time.

Alt + double-click

Display the properties of the object you double-click on in Windows 95 and later. For example, doing this on a file would display its properties.

Alt + Print Screen

Create a screen shot only for the active program window in all versions of Windows. For example, if you opened the calculator and did this only the calculator window would be created as a screen shot. If just the Print Screen key is pressed the whole screen will be made into a screen shot.

Ctrl + Alt + Del

Open the Windows option screen for locking computer, switching user, Task Manager, etc. in later versions of Windows. Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del multiple times will reboot the computer.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

Immediately bring up the Windows Task Manager in Windows 2000 and later.

Ctrl + Esc

Open the Windows Start menu in most versions of Windows. In Windows 8 this will open the Start screen and in Windows 3.x this would bring up the Task Manager.

Alt + Esc

Switch between open applications on Taskbar in Windows 95 and later.

Alt + Space bar

Drops down the window control menu for the currently open Windows program in Windows 95 and later.

Alt + Enter

Opens properties window of selected icon or program in Windows 95 and later.

Alt + Space bar

Open the control menu for the current window open in all versions of Windows.

Shift + Del

Will delete any file or other object without throwing it into the Recycle Bin in Windows 95 and later.

Hold down the Shift key

When putting in an audio CD or other CD that uses Autoplay, holding down the Shift key will prevent that CD from playing.

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Top 10 keyboard shortcuts everyone should know

Using keyboard shortcuts can greatly increase your productivity, reduce repetitive strain, and help keep you focused. For example, highlighting text with the keyboard and pressing Ctrl + C is much faster than taking your hand from the keyboard, highlighting the text using the mouse, clicking copy from the file menu, and then putting your hand back in place on the keyboard. Below are our top 10 keyboard shortcuts we recommend everyone memorize and use.

Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert

Copy the highlighted text or selected item.

Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert

Paste the text or object that's in the clipboard.

Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y

Undo any change. For example, if you cut text, pressing this will undo it. This can also often be pressed multiple times to undo multiple changes. Pressing Ctrl + Y would redo the undo.

Ctrl + F

Open the Find in any program. This includes your Internet browser to find text on the current page.

Alt + Tab or Alt + Esc

Quickly switch between open programs moving forward.

Tip: Press Ctrl + Tab to switch between tabs in a program.

Tip: Adding the Shift key to Alt + Tab or Ctrl + Tab will move backwards. For example, if you are pressing Alt + Tab and pass the program you want to switch to, press Alt + Shift + Tab to move backwards to that program.

Tip: Windows Vista and 7 users can also press the Windows Key + Tab to switch through open programs in a full screenshot of the Window.

Ctrl + Back space and Ctrl + Left or Right arrow

Pressing Ctrl + Backspace will delete a full word at a time instead of a single character.

Holding down the Ctrl key while pressing the left or right arrow will move the cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. If you wanted to highlight one word at a time you can hold down Ctrl + Shift and then press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction while highlighting each word.

Ctrl + S

While working on a document or other file in almost every program pressing Ctrl + S will save that file. This shortcut key should be used frequently anytime you're working on anything important.

Ctrl + Home or Ctrl + End

Move the cursor to the beginning or end of a document.

Ctrl + P

Print the page being viewed. For example, the document in Microsoft Word or the web page in your Internet browser.

Page Up, Space bar, and Page Down

Pressing either the page up or page down key will move that page one page at a time in that direction. When browsing the Internet pressing the space bar will also move the page down one page at a time. If you press Shift and the Space bar the page will go up a page at a time.

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