Computing Workshop
Bill McArthur
Questions and answers
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Why does my laptop suddenly stop connecting to wireless networks?
This has happened to me and to several Rock Creekers. Many laptops have a small slide switch on the front or side edge that enables or disables wireless. Also, some laptops use the F2 function key to enable or disable wireless.
What causes the cursor on my laptop to go crazy sometimes?
This behavior is probably due to the combination of an attached mouse and an active touchpad. The solution is to disable the touchpad. Look for a touchpad icon on the lower right of your computer screen, right click, and choose "disable." If you don't have a touchpad icon, you might have to download a new driver for the touchpad.
Why is it that sometimes I have to download an email attachment, but other times the attachment is right there in the message?
The sender of the email determines whether an attachment is "embedded" or separate from the body of the email. The email client might make it easier for attachments in one mode or the other.
What does "app" stand for and what is it?
"App" stands for "application" or "program." The first time I remember seeing "app" was in the discussion of so-called "killer apps", programs so good that someone would buy a computer just to be able to use the app. Visicalc, a spreadsheet, was a killer app for the Apple II microcomputer.
How can I alphabetize my "Favorites" in Internet Explorer?
Here's an Internet article on the subject.
I have some clipart files that have a ".wmf" extension. When I browse through them, I don't get a preview. Why is that?
Interesting situation. ".wmf" files are "Windows Metafiles" used for vector based images to allow for easy re-sizing with high quality. Windows XP supported previewing the files, but later versions of Windows (Vista and Windows 7, at this writing) do not allow previews due to security concerns. The clipart can be used, inserted into documents, and viewed, but not previewed.
How do you get rid of all the names that appear when you get an email that has been sent to many recipients or forwarded multiple times?
If you "reply" or "forward" the message, you can delete whatever you want by highlighting an area and hitting the backspace key.
How do I find the IP number of my computer?
If you are connected to the Internet, use your browser to go to http://www.whatismyip.com/. When I check that, I find the IP address: 67.238.13.227. If your computer is directly connected to your ISP via a cable modem, for example, then that is your IP address assigned by your ISP. The number can change from time to time, depending on how your ISP issues IP numbers, either dynamically or statically. If you have router, then the IP number is for the router. To find your IP number on the LAN (Local Area Network) established by your router, for a Windows computer, type "command" in the "search" box under the "start" button. When the black command window comes up, type "ipconfig" and hit enter. Your computer's IP address for the LAN will be listed on the line marked "IPv4 address", my computer shows 192.168.1.68. This IP address could be dynamic (changeable) or static.
How do I get back to a task window from another task window?
In the usual orientation of the computer display for Microsoft Windows, there is a group of icons (small pictures) on the bottom left of the screen which represent the running tasks on the computer. Click here for an annotated example. The "folder" icon represents the group of open folders (click here for an example), the other icons represent programs which might have multiple open windows. You can choose a program window or a folder window with a left mouse click.
Is there a rule for when to use a "right mouse click"?
No rule that I know of. The purpose of the "right mouse click" is to get a menu (list) of options pertaining to the location of the mouse cursor. For example, if you highlight some text and place the mouse cursor inside of that highlighted area (click here to see an example), a right click will present a menu which will contain options such as "cut", "copy", and "paste" (click here for an example menu). You can select an option from the menu with a left mouse click.
Why does a printer print a coupon from an email but doesn't print a photo?
It might be due to a setting in your email program, because it shouldn't make any difference to the printer. However, if a photo is an attachment, then printing the email will not print the photo. If you open the attachement, you will be able to print it directly.
How do you get rid of cookies?
There are numerous web "browsers" (Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer are popular ones, in my order of preference), each with its own method of purging "private" data, which includes browsing history, temporary files, and cookies. For Internet Explorer, which most people use in spite of it being the worst possible choice (IMHO), "Internet Options" provides functions for deleting private data.
What are "cookies"?
Cookies are small databases on your computer that have information about you associated with various web sites. Cookies are sometimes very helpful when using a web site that you use often.
Do you have to program your smartphone to have photos go to FaceBook?
Not really. Just obtain a "FaceBook" app, if your phone supports it. The FaceBook app will have a function for uploading photos. Of course, you have to have a FaceBook account and tell your phone's app your user ID and password for FB.
How do you send emails to groups?
If your email program supports named lists of email addresses (often called "groups"), then you can send an email to the group name. Otherwise, you can put multiple email addresses into the "to", "cc", or "bcc" fields to send to more than one recipient.
What is "sleep mode"?
When a computer is inactive, parts of the computer can go into a state that uses less energy, called "sleep mode". This can describe different variations such as the display monitor appearing black or the disk drive in an idle (not spinning) mode. The "control panel" on a Windows computer can be used to customize the details of sleep mode.
How do you copy a file or folder to another location?
The way that I prefer is to open a folder pane that includes the file or folder that I want to move. Right click on the name of the file or folder and select the "copy" option. Then, open a folder pane where you want to move the item. Right click on an empty space in the destination pane and select "paste."
How do you make a folder and name it?
In Windows 7, every folder "pane" has a "New Folder" option for creating a folder. You will have a chance to name it as it's created. To rename a folder, right-click on it in a folder list and select the "rename" option.
I heard that when your computer crashes (editor note: a computer "crash" is jargon for some errant behavior by the computer that makes it inoperative temporarily or permanently), you can pre-date the crash and restore it back to that date when it worked. How do you do that?
The Windows operating system uses a database called the "registry" to store crucial information about the computer. Sometimes the registry gets so messed up that the computer won't properly operate. Windows provides a couple of tools to help these situations: "safe mode", and system "restore." When you start your computer, hold the F8 key until a "boot" menu appears. You can enter safe mode with networking and fix things yourself (if you know how), or select the "repair" option (if available). If the "repair" option is not available, you can restore the registry manually, but the technique depends on the version of Windows. Google "registry restore" to get instructions. Note: be extremely careful when dealing with the registry. If you don't completely understand what you are doing, get an expert to help.
I am computer illiterate. Why should I even learn how to use a computer; how would I begin?
You should ask your friends who have computers what they do of value to them. If you think that you want a computer, I would suggest that you buy an inexpensive laptop. I look for good deals from Dell or Best Buy. If you want to enter the Apple Mac world, you will pay more, but might be happier in the long run. So far, I haven't been able to justify the price difference. To begin using a computer, decide what are the two or three most important applications that you want to use, for example: email, photo storage and sharing, and Internet browsing. Then, find someone to help you with each.
Is it worthwhile getting an iPhone?
I don't know anyone who has an iPhone that doesn't love it. It's not cheap to buy and the monthly rate is fairly high (I pay $123 for a shared plan), but if you will make use of the many "apps", it will be worth it.
How do I send photos in an email?
It depends on your email system (email "client"), but "attach" is the usual option that allows you to put in a photo. You will have to move through files and folders on your computer as shown in the Workshop 1 handout to specify the photo to attach.
How can I make my own blog?
I like WordPress for a quick way to get into blogging. I use my own web server for my own blog, but WordPress makes it easy.
How do you reduce the size of a photo to send it in an email?
I usually use Paint Shop Pro for my photo editing. You might take a look at this free, online photo resizing website.
Is there a problem putting a credit card on the computer?
You should be very careful about it, but I buy things online constantly. First of all, don't use an unsecured (public) wireless network. Next, only use a reputable online retailer. If in doubt, use Google to investigate. Finally, make sure that you are using a secure webpage (HTTPS:// instead of HTTP://). You might have to tip off your credit card company that you are going to use your card for online purchases. Most credit card companies are very good about handling disputed purchases if you run into problems online.
How do you do a video email?
You can attach a video file to an email just as you attach a photo. However, videos are often too big for email systems. A better approach might be to upload the video to YouTube and then just email a link to the YouTube video.
How do you create a folder and fill it?
It depends on your operating system. On Windows 7, they make it very easy by putting a "New Folder" option on each file/folder window. You can just click and name the folder. There are a couple of ways to move files into a folder, "drag and drop", or "copy and paste." For Windows Vista, XP, and other versions of the operating system, try right clicking on an empty space in the folder window and choose the "New" option and then the "Folder" option.
How does YouTube work?
It is very easy to use from its website. I find it the best for storing and sharing my videos. It's fun to see some of my videos being viewed by a lot of people.
What is the best photo editing program?
I like Paint Shop Pro. It's not necessarily the best, but it's good enough for what I do and it's relatively inexpensive. PhotoShop is the gold standard, but it's expensive. Picasa is a good photo editor/organizer which allows you to go back and forth from your computer to the Internet.
Could you put a little info on the Apple operating system. An example is the "path"?
I apologize that I mainly discuss Windows machines, because that's what I normally use. Apple provides information on their website. Here's what they say about the pathname:
An absolute pathname gives an exact location by including the name of every folder in the path from the root of the disk to the item being named. For example, the absolute pathname of the Desktop folder in Figure 2 would be:
Note that the root of the disk is represented simply by the first solidus, or "slash," symbol. Each subsequent solidus marks a division between the names of nested folders.
How do you cut and paste?
On a Windows PC, copying, cutting, and pasting can be accomplished from the "edit" menu of an application, by use of the right-hand mouse button, or by holding down the "Control" key (CTRL) and tapping "c" for copy, "x" for cut, and "v" for paste.
How do I know what files to delete to speed up my computer?
This is pretty tricky. Normally, it's running applications that slow down your computer as opposed to too many files. If you are close to the capacity of your disk drive, you should probably look for unneeded files to delete. The files that you delete should be files that you have created yourself. Once in a while, you should use your Internet browser's options to remove temporary files and "cookies". Investigating running programs is best done through your computer's task management system.
Most computers for sale come equipped with Windows. You speak about Macs being easier. What do you recommend?
I think that each version of Windows gets worse than those that went before. Meanwhile the Macs are just getting better and easier to use. To me, the only downside of the Mac is the price. If I could justify the price, I would buy a Mac. I just might be doing that for my next computer (next year). Apple has always had an innovative and user-friendly vision of computing. Microsoft has always just been in it for the money and power and has always reacted to trends rather than setting them. In addition, Microsoft has huge software engineering and configuration management problems that cause its own programs to be incompatible with its own operating system. It's a huge, ungainly colossus due for a big, big, fall. As a creator of computer software, I have watched Microsoft undermine my products by arbitrarily making things obsolete and not providing backward compatibility, all just for more money for them.
Do you have to give permission to be a "follower" on Twitter?
The whole story can be found here. Basically, you can protect your profile to make people have to request to "follow" you. I don't bother protecting my profile because I don't care who follows me.
How can I keep my list of "friends" on FaceBook down to friends and family without refusing to be friends with those that ask?
What I do is just to take no action when I'm asked to be a "friend" with someone that I don't know or don't want to deal with on FaceBook. Those people don't know whether I recieved the request or not. None of them have ever asked twice.
How do I use Skype?
The best way to find out is to go to their website.
How do I put a picture into the computer?
The handout for session 2 of the workshop talks a bit about this issue. The exact answer depends on the make and model of your camera and your computer. The picture is in the form of a file on both the camera and the computer and has to be transferred as such.
How do I avoid SPAM emails?
This is a really tough problem which I struggle with on a daily basis. If you are receiving unwanted emails from a company that you've bought something from online, there is usually an "opt-out" or "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email which requests that they stop sending you emails. Important note: do not click on any link in an email from an unknown source or what you suspect is a scam. Most email systems have SPAM filters, which automatically go through your messages and try to separate the junk from the good stuff. The filters normally place the messages that they believe are SPAM into special folders so that you can look to see if any good messages have been accidentally trashed. As with many filtering systems, sometimes they allow bad things to get through and sometimes they block good things.
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