Tip of the Day: Maximizing Your Start Menu

tip of the day maximizing your start menu

start menu

Did you love the start button functionalities from Windows 7, but dislike what happened with Windows 8 and Windows 10? We’ve got a hot tip for you that returns that feature with multiple options that you can tweak to your hearts content. It’s a shell replacement program called Classic Shell, which gives you that awesome Windows 7 start menu that we all knew and loved with both new and old functionality.

Go to http://www.classicshell.net/ to download the software to your computer so that we can get started. The program is no longer being actively developed by the original creator, but not to worry! Classic Shell has been around for many years with many features and solid stability that it will be good well into the future. Once you get the program installed you can immediately see it by pressing your start button like you always do… cool huh?  If you right click on the new start button you will see the new settings for the Classic Start Menu. Right click and go to Settings to get into the real fun. By default you will see the basic options for you to poke around in, but if you are feeling adventurous you can check the box that says Show all settings. If you like to tweak everything then this is perfect for you, otherwise keep it simple and just do the basics. Play around with the colors, themes, styles, and settings until you love your new start button experience. We rely on the start menu so much, so why not give it a splash of your own style and enjoy that awesome Windows 7 style button.

Once you get everything setup to your exact liking you do not have to worry about losing all of your hard work if something were to go wrong! In the options menu for Classic Shell there is a Backup button you can press to make a file backup of all the settings you just changed. Hit the Save to XML file option and save that backup file anywhere on the disk drive so that it will not get lost. Better yet… transfer that file to one of your cloud storage accounts so that it will never get lost. Some examples of cloud storage services would include Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box. Any of those will be the perfect place to keep your start menu settings online forever! When you are ready to restore that file just go to the Backup button and hit Load from XML file to get back up and running.

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Get Away From the Computer Screen – Computer Tip of the Day

get away from the computer screen computer tip of the day

Spending too much time on a computer becomes counterproductive. Instead of getting more work done, you’re more likely to burn out physically and mentally.

Knowing how and why you should take breaks is especially important for office workers who rely on computers daily. Businesses should remind and encourage their employees to take frequent breaks.

Give your eyes a break

Looking at a screen for too long is bad for your eyes. This isn’t just something your parents told you to get you to stop watching television. According to this Spine Universe article, it can actually change the way your eyes work:

“Looking at a computer screen for extended periods causes some changes in how your eyes work, including blinking less often and exposing more of the eye surface to air. Every 15 minutes, briefly look away from the computer screen for a minute or two to a more distant scene, preferably something more than 20 feet away. This lets the muscles inside the eye relax.”

You should frequently give your eyes a break by looking at anything other than a digital screen. That means no laptops, no TVs, and no phones.

Do some stretching

Sitting at a computer too long promotes bad posture. That’s why you see some office employees with their shoulders rolled forward.

You can do two things to fight against this. One is learning how to sit properly by trying not to slouch. The other is learning to take short breaks to stretch and gain some basic mobility back.

Make a schedule

While most people will agree that it’s important to take breaks from the computer, few do it often enough. To make sure you’re getting enough rest, we recommend making a schedule to stick to for a few weeks. Make it a habit to get away from the screen, and you’ll be less likely to burn out in the future.

For more computer tips, contact us today.

How to Create a Password to Protect Your Computer

Password to protect your computerA password is a word or string of characters you use for user authentication. You must know it in order to prove your identity or gain approval to access an account. A hacker is a person who illegally gets access to a computer system and tampers with the information.

Tips on how to protect your computer from hackers are below.

  • Do not use a password that contains parts of your name or email address.
  • Do not include personal information or use consecutive numbers in your password.
  • Avoid using a password that has familiar slang terms or phrases.
  • Use variations on numbers, punctuation, capitalization and spelling. A secure password is lengthy, random, and unique.
  • Use the Bruce Schneier’s Method. It was created by a security expert who recommends that you take a sentence and turn it into a password. Take the words from the sentence, then abbreviate and combine them.

It is also important to protect your computer from viruses by using antivirus software. There are several commercial products that can help protect your computer from various viruses, worms, Trojans and other hacker tools. Your software must be configured to update its database on what to look for. Use a firewall as well because it tries to block hackers from entering or using your computer. Firewall examines electronic data coming in or out of your computer and compares it to the rules. If the data matches the rules, it is permitted to pass. If it does not, it is blocked.

For more information please contact us.

How to Type Faster on the Computer

how to type faster on the computer

how to type faster on the computer

Doing something for years doesn’t guarantee that you’re doing it correctly. This is the case for several people who have never had formal typing training.

Here’s how you can type faster on the computer

Improve your finger placement

Finger placement is the most important factor when it comes to typing. Some users still don’t know what keys their fingers should be on while in the starting position.

It might feel uncomfortable at first, but you’ll get used to it over time. Remember, there’s no real way to improve your typing speed without getting your finger placement down first.

Use all 10 fingers

10 fingers can type faster than 2 fingers. No one argues that, and yet you’ll still see many people in the office who type with their two pointer fingers.

As long as you’ve learned the correct finger placements, you can type with 10 fingers. All you have to do is know which keys each finger is responsible for.

Practice

Once you’ve taken care of the two most important factors — finger placement and using all 10 fingers — there’s not really anything else that you need to learn. However, starting to type this way will undoubtedly feel awkward at first. By using sites like Typingtest.com, you can improve your speed over time. Just start out slow, learn the correct movements, and get better as you go along.

Buy a new laptop

It’s possible that your laptop is limiting your typing speed. Some brands, like Lenovo, are known for having excellent keyboards. If you just picked the cheapest laptop at Best Buy several years ago, then it may be time for a new one. If typing speed is your main focus, then read reviews regarding different laptops and their keyboards.

To talk more about improving your typing speed on the computer, or anything else, contact us today.

Keyboard Shortcuts: New Folder, New Files, New Window

keyboard shortcuts new folder new files new window
keyboard shortcut to create new folder

When you find yourself doing a certain repetitive task on your computer, look for a keyboard shortcut to increase your productivity.  Whether you’re running Windows or Mac iOS, there are keyboard shortcuts to perform a variety of tasks including creating new files, creating a new folder, and opening a new window in an existing program.  Here’s how:

New File

When you are already using a desktop program to write a document, create a presentation, or compute sales figures, you can quickly open a new blank version by using the key strokes below.  This document shows up in exactly the same way as using your mouse to navigate the file menu but in much less time.

Windows: Control (Ctrl) + N

Mac: Command ⌘ + N

New Folder

To use this shortcut, make sure to have your file manager open in the directory you want to add the new folder into.  Using the key strokes below will add a folder temporarily named “New Folder” which you can easily rename to suit your needs.

Windows: Control (Ctrl) + Shift + N

Mac: Command ⌘ + Shift + N

New Window

When in an internet browser or file manager system, the key strokes below will open a new window for you.  In your internet browser the new window will go to your homepage, but the file manager will open the same view you currently have.  A new file manager window can be especially useful when moving a lot of files around.

Windows: Control (Ctrl) + N

Mac: Command ⌘ + N

Advanced Tip!

Speaking of moving files, you may find you want to open the parent folder of the current folder in a new window.  For Windows, this is a two-step process, but Mac does it in one.  Here are the key strokes:

Windows: 

Step 1: Control (Ctrl) + N

Step 2: Alt + Up-arrow

Mac: Command ⌘ + Control ⌃ + Up-Arrow

You can modify many of the key combinations above to perform other useful functions.  With the right tools and people who know how to use them, it’s even possible to create your own shortcuts.  If you’re looking for more ways to increase business productivity through efficient use of technology, please contact us today. Check out our blog for more computer tips and tricks.