Tip & Tricks & Troubleshooting

Tips & Tricks


Please avoid using MSIE
during this course.  Instead, use Chrome as your main browser.  There
will be times, when we may use Firefox or Maxthon as well.  You can download Chrome here. 

  

⇨ Use your Bookmarks Toolbar to easily find sites you frequently visit (‘how to’ guide here)



⇨  If you don’t have a bookmark or link to a site, type the URL directly
into the address bar. You don’t ever need to type http://  and usually
you don’t need www. You also don’t need to delete what’s there – just
click (automatic highlight) and type.


⇨ When using Chrome, you can search by typing terms directly in the address bar. Google search shortcuts here. (time define weather sunset convert)


⇨ Use tabbed browsing in Chrome  MSIE Firefox, or MSIE


Trouble reading the screen?  Ust ctrl+ or ctrl- to make text larger or smaller.


Made a mistake?  Deleted something by accident? ctrl+z (undo) Most programs allow you to ‘undo’ a number of your previous steps.


⇨  Many more Windows Shortcuts here


⇨ When in doubt, right click.
 This will usually give a set of options for what you want to do.  For
example, when you see a link that you want to open, but don’t want to
lose the page you’re on, right click,  ‘open link in new tab’.









 ⇨ Always notice where you are
saving things. On these laptops, please save files in c:/temp (not on the desktop)

 




Know
your file types
 (e.g.  .ppt, mp3, mp4, .pdf, .swf).  Enable viewing
extensions by going to Control Panel/Appearance and
Personalization/Show hidden files and folders, and unchecking ‘Hide
extensions for known file types’.

File Extension       Type of File Programs
.ppt ,  .pps , or . odp presentation Powerpoint  OpenOffice Impress, or Google Docs
.doc, docx, .hwp, .odt, or .rtf document Microsoft Word, HWP, Open Office, or Google Docs
.pdf document Foxit  or Adobe Reader
.mp3 audio  VLCWindows Media Player, and other Media Players
.htm or .html web page ChromeFirefoxMSIE   , or other browsers
.swf or .flv flash file VLCAdobe Flash Player
.wmv , .rm , .avi ,
.mp4 , .mpg, or .mov
video (video files)
 VLCReal PlayerWindows Media PlayerGom,  or other media players




 Learn general functions, not specific places to click.    (e.g. old blogger vs. new blogger)

             
             
⇨  Improve your typing speedList of typing sites

Troubleshooting Specifics

↯  I can’t connect to the internet
If you are having trouble connecting to the internet, click on the  icon
in the bottom right of your screen, select PUFS Lab 3F,PUFS Lab3F-1, or
any BUFS network with a strong signal. After clicking ‘connect’,  you
see this icon:  if you have successfully connected.

↯  How do I….?  

If
there’s something you can do with a program or site, it’s in the menu
somewhere.  Check the top menu and/or find the ‘Settings’ option



!







↯  How do I change my language settings in Google Whatever?


Click the ‘gear’ and then settings/  The top setting should be ‘langauge’.

↯  How do I get to Google (Documents, Maps, Blogger, etc)?  

Go to Gmail or other Google services and check the top menu.

 

↯  I need handouts!  How can I get a print out all of instructions on LearningCall.net? Click the Print Friendly option at the bottom of each page.



General Tips for Safer and Speedier Computing

↯  To
 reduce the time it takes to
boot up your computer and improve overall
computer speed, type
msconfig in the Run Window.   The ‘System
Configuration’ window will pop up.  Choose the Startup tab and uncheck
almost everything except anti-virus programs. 

   
Korean explanation at: http://dkathrhwlq.tistory.com/106

↯  Make sure you have an anti-virus and anti-spyware problem installed that you keep updated.
I recommend the free versions of
AVG anti-virus   http://free.avg.com
and    Spybot Search & Destroy  http://safer-networking.org

Anti-Adware Programs and Methods