Computer Info – October 13, 1999

Today’s Topic

John Watkins will be here today – and as promised will be demonstrating how to prepare Christmas letters and address labels.

Filing (or Saving) Your Files (documents, pictures, etc)

        When you save your document, greeting card, picture or whatever file you are working on, you have the choice of where to save it. Organize!! It will help you locate the file when you wish to use it again.
        Would it be better to save the file named NEEDLE.DOC in the C:\COUNTRY\FARM\FIELD\HAYSTACK directory -- or in the C:\SEWING BASKET directory?
        You don’t have a choice, you say -- YES, you do. On the same screen where you enter the filename – if you look, it will say SAVE IN – and then list a directory. This is where you make your choice. What the program has provided there is either the last directory you were working in – or a directory that they thought you MIGHT like to use – NOT WHAT YOU HAVE TO USE.
        Create yourself directories that will rapidly help you find what you are looking for.

Editing Folder or File Names

        Here is a shortcut method of renaming your folders or files. Select the folder or file (remember this means to highlight it by click on it once with the left mouse button. Now push the F2 key and then type the new name. Those who have used the F2 key for editing cells in spreadsheets should find this easy to remember.
Managing Passwords
WINDOWS PASSWORD PROTECTION
        To set up your own user profile, click START – select SETTINGS – click CONTROL PANEL – double-click PASSWORDS. On the CHANGE PASSWORDS tab, click CHANGE WINDOWS PASSWORD. Do not enter any characters in the Old Password field. Enter a new password, then retype this password in the Confirm New Password field. A window pops up to let you know the Windows password has been changed. Click CLOSE.
        Next, click the USER PROFILES tab in the PASSWORD PROPERTIES dialog box. Click the radio button to the left of Users Can Customize Their Preferences and Desktop Settings, then click OK. You will need to restart Windows and enter your new password when prompted.
        This protection scheme isn’t very secure. The logon screen simply prevents others from logging on using your username. There’s nothing to stop a user from logging on with another username. Unauthorized personnel can click Cancel to bypass the entire logon procedure.
INTERNET PASSWORDS
        Many Web sites are requiring you to fill out a registration form complete with user name and password before they allow you to explore their contents. For security reasons, it’s best not to use the same password at each location.
        If you forget your registration ID and password for a particular site, there’s usually a password troubleshooting link on their home page. Typically, clicking the link brings up instructions for you to enter the E-mail address you provided when you first registered. The Web site will send you an E-mail message with your user ID and password.
        Many Web sites save your sign-on information in a cookie file on your hard drive. Cookies identify you and your access privileges at particular Web sites. If you delete your cookie file, you also delete the information, access privileges, and site preferences that other Web sites may have stored there. Therefore, it is a good idea to backup your cookie file for when you have to restore your system.
Common File Extensions
.123 Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet files
.386 Swap files used by Windows to control virtual memory
.AVI Movie files used in conjunction with Windows Media Player
.BAK Backup files usually created during the installation process when changes are made to system files
.BAT Batch files – contain DOS instructions
.BMP Bitmapped graphics files – used by Windows’ Paint programs and others
.CHK Files containing lost fragments found when running ScanDisk 
.COM Command files that give instructions to a program
.CPL Control Panel files
.DLL Dynamic Link library files that help Windows programs run smoothly
.DOC Word processing files – used by many programs
.DRV Device drive files that allow communication between Windows and hardware components
.EXE Executable files that run a program
.FON Font files for non-TrueType fonts
.GIF Graphics and picture files in a compressed format – common type on the Web
.HLP Help files that provide information in many programs
.HTM (sometimes .HTML) Hypertext document files used mainly on the Web
.ICO Files representing icons
.INI Files containing setup and configuration information for individual programs
.JPG Graphics and picture files that are viewable on the Web
.LOG Log files which many programs use to record logs of activities.
.MDB Database files associated with Microsoft Access
.PDF Text files created and viewed with Adobe Acrobat
.PPT Presentation files commonly used with Microsoft PowerPoint
.QDF Data files in Quicken
.RAM (sometimes .RA,.RM, and .RV) – Media files associated with RealPlayer
.RTF Rich-text format files – handy when sharing files between word-processing programs
.SWP Swap files used by Windows
.SYS System files in the Windows operating system
.TMP Temporary files used in Windows
.TTF TrueType font files
.TXT Text files created without formatting commands
.WAV Audio files 
.XLS Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files
.ZIP Compressed files used with Pkzip, Pkunzip, WinZip and other compression programs
        To view the extensions to your files in Windows 98 – open MY COMPUTER – choose VIEW from the top menu – then FOLDER OPTIONS. Click on the VIEW tab – and remove the DOT in front of HIDE FILE EXTENSIONS FOR KNOWN FILE TYPES.

Web Addresses for Scanning Help

Tips for Scanning
           http://www.scantips.com
Scanning for Beginners
           http://home.att.net/~cthames/index.htm

Use TROUBLESHOOTING From the Windows 98 Help File

        To find the Troubleshooting section, press the START button – choose HELP – choose the CONTENTS tab – then scroll down and click on TROUBLESHOOTING – then click WINDOWS 98 TROUBLESHOOTERS. Here you will find many possible situations and suggestions to correct them.