Double click the Power Options icon in the control panel and a window appears with a number of tabs across the top labeled:
Power Schemes, Alarms, Power Meter, Advanced and Hibernate. There may be variances in these options depending on which Windows operating system you have.
Power schemes is very useful, especially if you leave your PC on all the time. Double click on it to open it.
Two of the selections allow you to automatically turn off your monitor and hard drive(s) a selectable amount of time since the last keystroke or mouse movement. This saves your hard drive life by not having it continuously spin when it is not in use. You also save power by not having your display on when it is not in use.
To set the amount of time the hard drive runs before shutting down, select the time you want from the drop down menu next to 'Turn off hard disks'. The monitor shutdown time is set similarly in the 'Turn off monitor' drop down box.
The hard drive and monitor wake up when you initiate any activity that requires them.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
31. SET YOUR MODEM'S MAX SPEED
* Double click the Modem icon in the control panel. The 'Modem Options' window appears. Two tabs should appear, 'General' and 'Diagnostics'.
* Select the 'General' tab, then select 'Properties'. which opens and has a 'Maximum Speed' box about half way down.
* Open the box and select 115,200, then 'OK'.
If you have a 56kb/s modem this setting won't hurt it, but a setting of 9600 could slow it down.
* Select the 'General' tab, then select 'Properties'. which opens and has a 'Maximum Speed' box about half way down.
* Open the box and select 115,200, then 'OK'.
If you have a 56kb/s modem this setting won't hurt it, but a setting of 9600 could slow it down.
32. ADD PROGRAM ICONS TO QUICK LAUNCH TOOLBAR
The Quick Launch toolbar can be opened on the task bar. It is used to hold the icons of programs you use most frequently. They are always visible and accessible on the toolbar.
To add a program icon from the desktop to the toolbar, drag it from the desktop to the end of the task bar near the 'Start' button. A copy of the program icon appears on the toolbar.
You can also add an icon by copying it to the Quick Launch folder which is found at:
C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.
To add a program icon from the desktop to the toolbar, drag it from the desktop to the end of the task bar near the 'Start' button. A copy of the program icon appears on the toolbar.
You can also add an icon by copying it to the Quick Launch folder which is found at:
C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.
33. ADD PROGRAM ICONS TO THE START MENU
When you click 'Start' there is an area above the 'Programs' folder where you can store program icons that you use fairly often. To add an icon here:
* Click 'Start', then 'Settings', then 'Taskbar and Start Menu'. The 'Taskbar and Start Menu' properties box opens.
* Click the 'advanced' tab, then select 'add'. A 'Create Shortcut' window opens where you select the path to the program icon.
* Select the icon and a 'Select Program' folder appears.
* Select the 'Start' folder, and a 'Select a Title' Folder appears where you can rename the icon if you wish.
* Click 'Finish' and the icon is added.
* Click 'Start', then 'Settings', then 'Taskbar and Start Menu'. The 'Taskbar and Start Menu' properties box opens.
* Click the 'advanced' tab, then select 'add'. A 'Create Shortcut' window opens where you select the path to the program icon.
* Select the icon and a 'Select Program' folder appears.
* Select the 'Start' folder, and a 'Select a Title' Folder appears where you can rename the icon if you wish.
* Click 'Finish' and the icon is added.
34. ADD WEB LINKS TO YOUR FAVORITES LIST
While viewing an Internet web page with your Internet Explorer browser press 'Alt' and 'D' together, and the link for the page is added to your favorites list.
If you get a message that says 'Are you sure you want to remove folder xxxx', it means you favorites window is active.
Click anywhere on the web page itself and try again. The web page link is stored even if your favorites list is not displayed.
To display your favorites, click the 'Favorites' button on the standard toolbar and they on the left side of your browser.
If you get a message that says 'Are you sure you want to remove folder xxxx', it means you favorites window is active.
Click anywhere on the web page itself and try again. The web page link is stored even if your favorites list is not displayed.
To display your favorites, click the 'Favorites' button on the standard toolbar and they on the left side of your browser.
35. PROTECT YOUR PC WITH A SURGE PROTECTOR
This is an area that is critical to the continued operation of your PC. Power surges and lightning strikes can sometimes get coupled onto your PC through the power or phone line. These surges can damage your PC.
Surge protected power strips have snubber circuits that filter out these potentially dangerous power line transients.
In addition to AC line protection many surge protectors also have protected phone line connectors. Use these to protect your PC's modem:
a) Plug a standard telephone cable between the phone wall connector and the 'In' connector on the surge protector.
b) Use a second cable to connect your modem to the 'Out' connector.
Your modem and PC are now protected from dangerous phone line transients.
Surge protectors with these features cost around $20 dollars and are well worth every bit of it!
Surge protected power strips have snubber circuits that filter out these potentially dangerous power line transients.
In addition to AC line protection many surge protectors also have protected phone line connectors. Use these to protect your PC's modem:
a) Plug a standard telephone cable between the phone wall connector and the 'In' connector on the surge protector.
b) Use a second cable to connect your modem to the 'Out' connector.
Your modem and PC are now protected from dangerous phone line transients.
Surge protectors with these features cost around $20 dollars and are well worth every bit of it!
36. DEFRAGMENT YOUR HARD DRIVE
A heavily fragmented drive can slow down your PC. Running this maintenance task can help keep your PC running at top speed.
See the 'Easy Tips' section of the ComputerHelpAtoZ.com for complete instructions.
See the 'Easy Tips' section of the ComputerHelpAtoZ.com for complete instructions.
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