Windows Short-cut keys

27Jan12

These are generic Windows® Short Cut Keys that can be used in many ways such as moving or copying a file, a folder, or text in a document.  The key combination and key plus mouse combination are shown below.  To use a key combination first select which means doing a Left-Click on the item or at the starting point.   To then use the key combination on the  selection press the first key and hold and then press the second key in the sequence and release to perform the operation.

As a beginning example try using the;

Ctrl + f to FIND something.  Try using it while at a web page and a small box will appear where you can type in the search text and please feel free to experiment with wild cards.  After typing the search text use the Up and Down arrows next to the find box to move to each item that matches.  This works in most Programs.

Find the z, x, c, v keys on the key-board and notice they are adjacent to each other.  This is important and a way to remember each one.

Ctrl + z  Will undo the last operation so if you just deleted a picture and want it back try Ctrl + z and it will likely re-appear.  Anywhere a program shows an UNDO option this key combination should work.

Ctrl + x Cut, think of scissors detaching the selected text or highlighted item.  If all you wanted to do was remove something then that’s it, however, if you plan to put it somewhere else (see Ctrl + v) and navigate to where you want to place it.  WARNING: When moving a file or folder be sure to click in an empty area in the Window or Desktop before “pasting the item” so it will end up where you want it to go and not in the a Folder that is highlighted.

Ctrl + c Copy, will copy the selected text or item to copy it to a new location while leaving the original item where it is.   Like, CUT, navigate to the destination and use the Ctrl + V to paste the copied item or text.

Ctrl + v Paste, is used after either a Ctrl + x or Ctrl + c has been performed.  Move to the new location and Left-Click to define the insertion point and press this combination.  Example, you can Ctrl + c to copy an image and then Ctrl + v to paste the image in a document.

To assist in selecting multiple items before they are cut or copied the following key combinations can be used;

Ctrl + a  ALL, to select ALL the items in a Folder or all the text in the active window use this key combination.

Another way to select is the ctrl or shift key + Left-Click combination;

To select multiple individual items Hold and DO NOT release the Ctrl key and while clicking on items and each one will be selected, Left-Click on the same item again and it will remove it as a selected item.  For example, start with Ctrl + a (release) and then use Ctrl + Left-Click to remove a few items from the current selection.  So if you have 50 photos and 2 you do not want to cut or copy then use this method.  Once the items are selected use Ctrl + x to cut or Ctrl + c to copy and then navigate to the location to place the items and Left-Click to select the insertion point and press Ctrl + V.

Another way to select a series of files or folder or an area of text is to Left-Click on the starting point or file or folder and release.  Move the mouse to the last file, folder or end point and press SHIFT key + Left-Click and all the text or items in-between will be selected.

Be carefull because a common sinking feeling is to Paste a file and folder and think it dissappeared when it was inserted into the selected Folder since it was highlighted at the time.  If that happens you may need to use the Quick Search to locate the item if you remember all or part of the item name.

Filed under: Daily Computer Tips   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: copy a file, cut & paste, cut and paste, move a file, search text, select text quickly, short-cut keys, Undo short-cut key, wild cards

Windows Vista or 7 Quick find

26Jan12

Windows® Vista and 7 have a fast way to open a program or file or folder. In the bottom left corner of the computer screen is the Windows Globe Icon, left-click on it and the curser is immediately in a search box. To find a File, Folder, Utility or any item on the computer go ahead and type in the name and a results list will appear above. If you see what you need and it is highlighted press the key-board ENTER key or if not highlighted use the keyboard arrow down to highlight it first.  A file will open in the Program that is assigned by Windows to that file.

More advanced, sometimes a program needs to be run with Administrative priviliges such as installing a program. To do so Right-Click on the program in the list and left-click “Run as Administrator”. This applies to Programs and they will be run at a higher privilege giving greater access to install files and services. Certain types of Programs like msi install files will only show an “Open” or “Install” option.

Wildcards can be used if you are not sure of the complete file name. A single letter is replaced with a “?” and a group of letters are replaced with an “*”. For example, if you know a document begins with “success” then type “success*.*” to locate all files that begin with success.  If you have a picture that begins with “Vac” and you know it is a .jpg file type then type Vac*.jpg and any pictures that start with “Vac” and are the .jpg will be shown.

And if you combine this with the earlier post SEND TO then Right-Click on the file or folder when it appears to use this option.

Filed under: Daily Computer Tips   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: Find a file, Find a folder, run a Program quickly, Windows 7 Quick search, windows vista quick search

SEND TO (Windows 7)

23Jan12

Let’s say you need to compress a folder or file to make it smaller or maybe you need to quickly send a file with Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird or even to send it to a Flash Drive plugged into the computer then the SEND TO is the tool.  Right-Click on the File or Folder and Left-Click on the SEND TO option and Left-Click what you need to do.  Give it a try.

To see even more SEND TO options hold the Shift-Key before right-clicking on the File and Folder to get more options.

Filed under: Daily Computer Tips   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: compress a folder or file, flash drive, microsoft outlook, mozilla thunderbird, send to, Windows 7

Invite your Friends & Associates

20Jan12

Hello Everyone,  Exciting news!  Please invite your friends to the new Techimproved Fan page.  Helpful daily TECH tips, news, and alerts for the local Napa Valley Communities will be posted for both Windows® and Linux users.  All you need to do is click the link and then click the Share Button to send it to a friend or just pass it on via your Social Media site.  For those who prefer there is an email and RSS subscribe feed on the Blog Site.  Thank you for being a FAN of Techimproved.  We are definitely a FAN of our friends and customers!

Filed under: Daily Computer Tips   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: exciting news, fan page, linux users, napa valley, tips news

Avoid being Hijacked on FREE WIFI

25Nov11

Maybe you are so happy to sit in that Cafe with an unsecured (no password required) FREE WIFI or other place using your laptop to surf the Internet or there is a neighbor with an unsecured WIFI link so why not piggy back on that free WIFI source?  The answer is that it is EXTREMELY easy for any person and there are 1000′s (growing by the second, and that is a statistic) who want to snoop into your business who can sit nearby and see YOUR screen on their computer!  YIKES!!  There is good news and 2 solutions;

First option: approach the manager of the place offering FREE WIFI and recommend they add a password to the WIFI and make a SIGN with the password written on it.  What, you say??  By adding a password even though it is publicly posted the information streaming through the air is now encrypted (secured) so that someone trying to read this information even knowing the public password will see encrypted data whereas without the password they can easily read the information they capture.

Second option; use a FREE Virtual Private Network (VPN) to secure your data before it flies through the air.  With VPN the data is encrypted on your computer before it is transmitted so that nearby snooper sees Gobbledygook.  How to do it:

The kind people who have been in business for years provide the VPN service at:

http://www.bestfreevpn.com  <- use this same link to see the current password (keeping reading for more information)

To set it up with a Windows 7 or Vista PC (http://www.bestfreevpn.com/windows-7-free-vpn/):

1. Open the Control Panel  ->  left-click on Network and Internet and left-click Network and Sharing Center.  (short-cut, left-click the START button and type in “Network and Sharing Center” and left-click on the option when it appears in the list that appears)
2. In the appearing windows left-click on Set up a new connection or network -> left-click (next) Connect to a workplace
3. Select “No, create a new cnonection” left-click (next) -> left-click Use my Internet connection (VPN)
4. Type in: Internet Address: bestfreevpn.com, Destination Name: BestFreeVPN (No other items checked) left-click (next)
5. Type in: User name: free, Password: (use the latest one shown at http://www.bestfreevpn.com/free-vpn/)

THAT’s it!  Pass this information on to your friends!

To set it up with a Windows XP PC:

1. Open Control Panel (left-click START and Left-Click the Control Panel)
2. Left-Click on Network Connections icon to open the Network Connections window.
3. Left-Click the Next button for the first “New Connection Wizard” Welcome window.
4. Select “Connect to the network at my workspace” in “Network Connection Type” window, left-click Next button.
5. Select “Virtual Private Network connection“, left-click Next button.
6. Connection name: type in bestfreevpn.com, left-click Next button.
7. VPN Server hostname: type in bestfreevpn.com, left-click Next button.
8. Left-Click FINISH, type in USER: free and PASSWORD: (use the latest one shown at http://www.bestfreevpn.com/free-vpn/) and left-click CONNECT.

THAT’s it!  Pass this information on to your friends.

Filed under: Mobile (Laptop & Cell), TIPS   |  Leave a Comment

It’s from my Friend Gotta Click on this! Whoa, wait just a Click!

30Jan11

A customer received an email today that looked like it was from SBCGlobal. The message was to the effect they were clearing out their database and needed the user name and password of the email account. The warning was that by not providing the information their email account would be removed within 48 hours. In two words, A SCAM!

Here are the rules of thumb to follow:

1. Never respond to any email asking for Account Information, Credit Card Information, Social Security Numbers, answers to Secret Questions, and so on.

2. When in doubt and worried call the financial, bank, Internet Service Provider, or any other company directly to verify or you can also email them.

3. DO NOT reply to any suspicious emails or click on any links in suspicious emails.

4. Links in emails have become increasingly dangerous even when the senders address is someone you email regularly. They could have a spam bot on their computer that grabbed their address book and email logon information. Frustrating for you and your friends, YES! How do you deal with this? Let’s say you find a cool video on Youtube then go ahead and note it’s name and send the email saying check out this video “Name of Video” and note it is on Youtube.

The sophistication of spammers, hackers, mob based computer criminals and many others continues to grow so by learning ways to communicate that defeats their techniques will allow you to avoid that “Uh-Oh” moment.

And you may be interested to learn about disk imaging that will allow you a clean recovery from serious Malware (Virus), operating system corruption or hard-disk crash. Simply put the software takes a complete “picture” of the hard-drive and when any of the issues mentioned occur this “picture” can be put back on the hard-drive as if nothing occurred. If you are interested you can contact us via the website

As a final note, when in doubt DO NOT CLICK on it. Either, call your friend to verify they sent it, use key words to search for what they are trying to show you or a similar method. An ounce of caution can save you a pound of headache.

To learn more go to http://www.ftc.gov/spam/
(Hah! Did you click that link! You can search “ftc.gov” and “spam” to verify it is ligit)

Filed under: TIPS   |  Leave a Comment

Keep your eye on the URL!

12Aug10

As you surf the internet build the habit of keeping your eye on the URL or Uniform Resource Locator.  This is the http or https (s for secure) used to tell you the internet location your browser is now presenting.  For example, the URL for this blog’s main page is .  This is important because a SPOOF website might look like the legitimate website (i.e. a Financial or Banking web-site) while the URL will give a clue to the hoax.  Instead of reading http://www.therealbanksite.com it might read http://www.abcrealbank123.com or any other creative domain name using different endings like .net, .com, .biz, and many others.  While these endings are all valid in the Internet world the full URL name is key to revealing the hoax web address and the SPOOF author will likely attempt to get something as close as possible.

And, website developers do not make this so easy.  After reaching the main legitimate website and logging in you will likely be re-directed to another valid location with a different URL.  Keep the eye on the URL and with some practice you will gain a sense of what is safe.

Filed under: Internet Browsers   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: Avoiding Fraud, Internet Browsing, Spoof Site, Uniform Resource Locator

Managing Passwords

18Jul10

[updated on July 19, 2010]

Managing passwords is always a challenge and creating strong ones is important.  If you want a really strong password you can check out the GRC Random Password generator and copy off at least 8 characters from a string.  Be careful and write it down and keep it safe for if you loose this it is unlikely you’ll be able to crack it!

One free option for password management, that could be more appealing, if using multiple browsers or computers is the currently free service from .  It allows you to save passwords from multiple sites and set up automated form information that is stored encrypted on-line.  It is a good idea to also keep a copy on the computer in-case anything happens to this service and it is not accessible.  To do this, use the link above and also download the LastPass Pocket that will serve as a backup.   LastPass is available as an ADD-ON or Extension for the popular web browsers.   For Firefox click on Tools > Add-ons and Left-Click on Get Add-ons, TYPE IN LastPass to locate the add-on.  This will solve the vulnerability of Firefox as noted here;

Firefox does not encrypt Passwords you save unless you use a Master Password.  I found using the Master Password feature cumbersome and the LastPass describe above is more convenient.  In case you want to try using a Master Password:

1. Left-Click on Tools.
2. Left-Click on Options …
3. Left-Click on the Tab.
4. Place a check mark in Use a Master Password.
5. Enter a strong Password.

A recent free password tool is available via Sourceforge, and a description of the software is available via the author’s Password Safe Website.

The Computer Appliance and Maintenance Manual Book or ebook has instructions on how to create a strong password page I-31.  You can also find this information for free by downloading it excerpt from this page!

Filed under: TIPS   |  Leave a Comment

Firewall may be Blocking it!

03Jul10

Any personal computer running Microsoft™ Windows needs to have a 3rd party firewall of some sort protecting direct access to the computer.  A preferred method is to use the Firewall of a Router.  If you do not have a Router with a Firewall and you have a Cable or DSL Modem from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) a 3rd party Firewall is recommended.  To test the Firewall of a Router or your current protection click on Fire Wall Testing Instructions.  AND, if you want to learn more about 3rd Party Firewalls or have have a 3rd Party Firewall that could be blocking a Programs Internet access the internet Mozilla Firefox support page has excellent information;

http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firewalls

Filed under: Firewalls   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: best practices, connection problem, Firewall, Free Software

CD or DVD Encoder / Decoder

25Jun10

A CD or DVD uses a laser to read and write information onto the spinning disk.  This technology appears to be headed along the same path as vinyl records and in the meantime we need them to work!  The laser reads digital information and an Encoder / Decoder, the translator, is required so the computer can understand what it means so you can see the information.  A recent Malware (Virus) may have corrupted the software used for this purpose or the re-install of Microsoft™ Windows XP has left the computer without this crucial utility.  Fortunately, the fix is available without cost by using the Windows Media Player.  <- Download the software from this link.  Here are some pointers on installing this or any legitimate software:

1. Perform a complete scan of the computer to ensure it is clean of Malware (viruses).
2. It is good practice to always create a Restore Point prior to installing software or making computer changes.  In Windows™ XPthis if found via;START -> ALL PROGRAMS -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore

   In Windows™ Vista and Windows™ 7, Left-Click on the Windows Symbol at the bottom left of the monitor and type in “System Protection“.

3. Be sure to use full administrative rights.  In Windows™ XP this is achieved either by being logged in on an Administrator Account or by a Right-Click on the file, choose “run as…” and entering the Username and Password of an Administrator account.
4. In Windows™ XP always Right-Click on the install file and choose “Run As..” even if using an Administrator Account and uncheck .
5. If the Program does not install properly you may need to temporarily disable any Anti-Malware and 3rd Party Firewall Programs that include program control features.
6. If you need to start over use the Restore Point created in step2 and begin again.

With the Windows Media Player or any other Encoding / Decoding Program installed a DVD will now play when it is placed into the DVD player.  If still having problems you may need to seek additional assistance.

Filed under: Not Working!, TIPS   |  Leave a Comment