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Here I show you some useful tips that work on Windows XP ranging from making a picture the main folder icon to closing multiple boxes. Not sure why my screen recorder went strange at the end.

Duration : 0:9:50

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Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Tip, tips, trick, win

Learn how to use your computer like an expert with these top-six free computer secrets that I.T. boffins world-wide have been trying to keep to themselves!

Gavin Wedell from Management Consultancy International teaches you how to easily:
- Speed up your old PC
- Customise your web experience with astonishing browser add-ons
- Create an amazing personalised portal
- Find and use the web’s best free downloads

- Access the most inspiring and interesting free web videos

Management Consultancy International is a Sydney-based Registered Training Organisation specialising in Leadership Development, Qualifications and LEGO Serious Play facilitation.

www.mci.edu.au

Duration : 0:8:25

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Technorati Tags: computer, Consultancy, Education, Geek, International, Management, Nerd, software, speed, tips, tricks, tweaks, vista, windows, xp

First episode of Computer Tips ‘n’ Tricks.

In Windows XP, there is a secret music file, I show you how to find it in this video.

Duration : 0:2:9

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Technorati Tags: computer, mrbiggles5, tips, tricks

Since I recently had to replace a keyboard on a laptop, and couldn’t find any resources on replacing it for this model, I thought I’d go ahead and do a run-through for anyone else who may need this.

Okay, to start with, you’ll need:

• Replacement keyboard (Part# 431414-001)
• Phillips Head Screwdriver
• Flat Head Screwdriver (for prying off cover)

Step 1: Remove RAM cover and Battery

Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws securing the RAM cover, and set it aside. Then remove the battery as well.

Step 2: Remove Necessary Screws

There are a total of eight screws that you’ll need to remove to get to the keyboard: Five black screws, and three smaller silver screws.

You’ll see a keyboard icon next to the three lower screws:

 And these are what you should end up with after removing the screws.

Step 3: Remove Keyboard Shield

 Next, we’ll have to remove the shield that holds the keyboard in place. You can do this using the Flathead screwdriver, fingernails, or a coin.

You’ll pop them up like the image above on both sides.

Once you get the cover up, be careful not to damage the flex cables beneath it.

Step 4: Remove Keyboard

Now that you have the shield loose, you can now remove the keyboard. There is another flex cable connecting the keyboard, so don’t pull too far up on the keyboard just yet.

Carefully work the cable out of its slot by pulling back towards the screen.

Now you’ve got the keyboard removed, and you’re ready to reinstall the new one. Almost there!

Step 5: Install the New Keyboard

First, carefully insert the new cable into the slot. Be careful not to damage it, the cables are fragile.

Update: “The connector slot has a lever the pins are connected to the white box and the black lever at the bottom of the white box can be pulled towards the screen. This will loosen the keyboard cable. If you press that black lever back it will fix the cable.” Thanks, alex for the tip!

Now, place the keyboard back down inside the case.

Now we’ll replace the shield. Push backwards toward the screen to make sure the back latches set in place correctly, then pop the sides back down into the case until you feel them lock.

Step 6: Close It All Back Up

Now that you’ve got the keyboard back on, flip it back over onto its back, and reinstall all eight screws.

Don’t forget, the three small screws go here, under the battery.

Now, we’ll put the RAM cover back on…

…and put the battery back in.

And that’s it! As long as you’ve got the cable plugged in correctly, it should work with no problems.

I found this over at:

http://kcoppock.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/howto-replace-keyboard-on-laptop-computer-hp-dv6105

Technorati Tags: dv6000, howto, hp, keyboard, laptop, replace

I referring back to this site from time to time to use some of thos windows commands from the command line. If you start to use these, you will notice that they can be so much faster. This was taken from site Mymindleaks.com

Courtesy: Yi Shiang

A Comprehensive list of most useful Windows Run Commands before you.

For quick windows commands Read on How to use Shell Operator

Make use of it and hack the features of Windows XP for better and productive use.

Technorati Tags: windows command line cmds xp

Having Wireless troubles? Check out these tips to fix or improve your wireless performance

Wi-Fi troubleshooting checklist

Using the tips outlined above, your wireless network’s range and speed should increase dramatically. But that doesn’t mean your network will be completely without hiccups. Here are 10 steps to try if you’ve got a dead or weak connection:

• Make sure that the cable or DSL modem and your router are connected and that everything’s powered up.
• Restart the router and PC to renew DHCP licenses.
• Call your Internet service provider to see if it’s doing maintenance or repairs to its network.
• Got the latest firmware and client software? Get it.
• Try to connect to the Net with a LAN cable. If that works, there’s something wrong with the wireless portion.
• Interference from cordless phones, baby monitors or even a powerful nearby network can knock your network out. Try a different channel.
• Slow connections can occur when too many clients are connected or someone is a data hog. If you notice a sudden slowdown, scout around on your network to see if somebody might be watching videos or otherwise hogging bandwidth. You could ask that person to cool it while other users are connected, or try quality-of-service (QOS) software such as JDSoft Bandwidth Manager, which lets you monitor network traffic and prioritize data flow across it.
• Getting “IP conflict” error messages? Consider using static IP addresses.
• If all else fails, it’s easy to reset the router to its factory configuration and start all over again.
• Think you’re done? Not yet. Before you forget it all, draw a map of the network with all the details scribbled in — log-in names, passwords, IDs, static addresses and so on. Even if it’s not completely up to date the next time you have a problem, the map will help you figure out what’s what — that is, if you remember where you put it.

If things are moving slowly on your computer, JiWire Inc.’s freeWi-Fi Security Test might figure out why. After interrogating your system, it displays your encryption type, signal strength and channel you’re using, plus any obvious security holes you have.

These tips came from Computerworld article written by Brian Nadel.

If you still can’t take care of the wireless problems, contact us though the site here or over at MyPCNetwork.com

Technorati Tags: wireless network networking wifi wi-fi troubleshooting

Microsoft is slashing its Office 2007 Ultimate price from $679 to $59.95 for college students, as well as more offers.

Microsoft wants college students to use its software. Badly. So much so that it’s offering college students a massive discount on its Office 2007 Ultimate package, slashing the price for $679 to a much more reasonable $59.95 in a deal called The Ultimate Steal.

What do they get for that? Office Ultimate contains the full versions of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher and OneNote as well as the InfoPath tool Groove collaboration software.

To qualify, students must have an e-mail address at an institution with a suffix ending in .edu, or be enrolled and taking at least an 0.5 credit course. Coming next month, students will also be able to get large discounts on Office Visio Pack 2007, Office Language Pack 2007, and Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade.

I will be looking into this for myself. Source of this is over at digitaltrends.com

Technorati Tags: windows office 2007 student version deals

In Vista, Use this feature on the networking side to switch to a “Private” network to enable sharing. This is something listed over at PCMag. See below…

There are two types of wireless networks known to Vista: public and private. Public networks are less secure, so the OS disables discovery of other devices when connected to one. But by default, Vista makes your network public. Go private instead, enabling a much more comprehensive view of the network behind your router using a new protocol called Link Layer Topology Discovery. In the Network and Sharing Center, click Customize under the picture of your network at top. Switch to Private and click Next. While you’re optimizing things, note the various sharing options listed; it’s easy to give all of your PCs access to your printer here.

Technorati Tags: vista network sharing public private

More discussion about keeping XP alive debate. What do you think about Vista vs XP? Like something else altogether? This was written by Ron Scherone.

Over at ZD-Net, writer Christopher Dawson, wrote an article in which he trashed XP in favor of Windows Vista. OK Not a trashing, but an observation as to why we should not downgrade to XP. After all, XP is old. It’s going on 7 years old. If you buy a new PC and keep it for 4 years, your operating system will be a whopping 11 years old. So Christopher goes on and on about the aging of XP and how we should all leave it behind and use Vista.

I can understand his reasoning. Windows XP may be showing its age. But heck, so am I. so Chris goes one step further and takes a poll he asks his readers to vote. XP or Vista. As of this writing, these were the results:

Would you take the XP Pro downgrade?

• Yes - Windows XP is tried and true; I’m sticking with it (62%)
• Nope - Give me Vista or give me, well, something other than Windows XP (38%)

Total Votes: 629

Your thoughts?

Technorati Tags: xp vista upgrade

Here are some tips that I saw over at PCTipsBox by Jason. I’m not sure that all of them are that valuable, but your mileage may vary.

Windows Vista comes with loads of features that can help save you time, especially with tasks that you perform regularly. Try out these tips and see how much time you can save.

1. Send an email straight from your desktop

If there’s someone you often send mail to, you can add a shortcut to your desktop to create a new email. Make a new shortcut and type in mailto: followed by your recipient’s email address, for example mailto:example@pctipsbox.com. Click Next, give the shortcut a meaningful name and then click Finish. The new shortcut will appear on your desktop, and double-clicking it will open up a blank email in your default email editor with the recipient’s address already filled in.

2. Quickly check your network connection status from your desktop

You can create a shortcut to quickly check the status of your internet connection, saving you the effort of clicking through a number of windows and folders. Go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Manage network connections. Right-click on the connection you want to check the status of and select Create Shortcut. This will place a shortcut on your desktop, and when you double-click it you will be taken directly to the status page of your connection.

3. Create shortcuts to your favourite web sites

You can save time by having shortcuts to frequently visited web sites on your desktop. Browse to the page that you want quick access to, and then drag and drop the small icon on the left of the address bar to your desktop. Now all you need to do is double-click the shortcut to go straight to the page.

4. Get all your breaking news in one place with RSS feeds

If you have a number of news sites that you check regularly you can save time by subscribing to their RSS feed (click on the orange RSS icon on the web site). This sends their latest headlines directly to your RSS reader (such as Microsoft Outlook or Internet Explorer), allowing you to keep up to date with all your favourite sites in one place. The RSS feed for this web site is http://www.pctipsbox.com/feed

5. Use Start Search

Use the Start Search to quickly launch programs rather than trawling through your computer to get them. Below are some handy phrases to type into the search to bring up the application straight away. Depending on what you have installed on your computer you may be able to find other phrases to launch your programs with, so it is worth experimenting.

• CMD Command prompt
• DEV Device Manager
• SYS System Restore
• NETW Connect to a Network Projector
• UPD Windows Update
• PROG Default Programs
• EVE Event viewer

6. Get the App Launcher sidebar gadget

There are a number of gadgets available from http://gallery.live.com/ that can help you speed up your computer use. The App Launcher gadget grants you fast access to files and folders by clicking on an icon that instantly launches them. It helps keep your desktop and Quick Launch free from clutter. ]

7. Install Launchy

Launchy is a powerful keystroke launcher, which is accessed by pressing Alt and Space bar. You can then type in the name of the application, file or web site you want to launch and press Enter. Launchy is intelligent enough to guess pretty accurately what you are looking for whilst you type, so by just typing goo then pressing Enter will open Google. You can download it for free at www.launchy.net

8. Use Task Scheduler to automate tasks

Save yourself a lot of time by using Task Scheduler to make Windows Vista automatically perform certain tasks. Type ‘Task Scheduler’ into Start Search and select what you want it to do, from defragmenting your hard drive to backing up your files, and when.

Do you have any time-saving tips for Windows Vista? If so, let us know!

Technorati Tags: windows vista tips shortcuts timesavers