1. Shut Down, Log-Off, or Restart

Of course, we all know that we should Shut Down our computers every night.  Besides logging us off of the network, this also frees up the network for back-ups and nightly maintenance.  Failure to shut-down (or log-off at the minimum) jeopardizes everybody’s data.

Sometimes, it is enough to simply log-off.  If you are going to be away from your computer for a while or are concerned about others using your computer, simply log off.  It is fairly quick to log back on when you are ready. 

All too often, computers are simply grouchy (they particularly dislike Monday mornings).  When this happens, you’ll notice that things may run slowly, your system continually crashes, or similar things occur.  Often you can resolve these problems by simply restarting your computer. 

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2. Ctrl-Alt-Del

By simultaneously pressing the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys, you can activate a very powerful feature in Windows called the TASK MANAGER.  While this screen may seem intimidating at first, it provides some very valuable information. 

If a program “crashes” or “hangs,” you may choose to press Ctrl-Alt-Del. 

One or more of the listed programs may be listed as “not responding.”  By simply selecting this program and then choosing “End Task,” you will be able to close that program without restarting your computer.  YOU SHOULD USE THIS FEATURE WITH CAUTION.  RESTARTING YOUR COMPUTER MAY STILL BE NECESSARY.

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3. Internet History and Temp Files

When you view a web page from the Internet, you create a HISTORY.  That’s right, the computer remembers where you have been.  This can be a very handy tool to help you find your way on the Internet.  To access this feature, simply click the “History” button in your web browser’s toolbar.

Often it is helpful to arrange the way you view your History by date or site.  To do this, simply click the “View” button at the top of the “History window” and choose the appropriate filter. 

Your computer also keeps copies of computer files from web pages you have visited.  From within your web browser, clicking on “Tools” then “Internet Options” will open the following window:

Next, click on the “Settings” button under “Temporary Internet Files".

By clicking on “View Files,” you can see exactly where your computer has browsed even if the History has been deleted.  You can also determine the date and time specific web sites were browsed.

If you are having problems with your computer shutting down or you feel like your web browser is running very slowly, delete this temporary Internet files from your computer.

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4. Exporting / Importing Favorites

If you have done much work on the World Wide Web, you’ve no doubt collected many FAVORITES.  These bookmarks to places on the web can save you a lot of time and energy. 

A great way to get even more use out of your FAVORITES is to export or import them to different locations.  To do this from your web browser, simply click “File,” then “Import and Export.”  Simply answer the questions in the wizard and you’ll soon be sharing all your great spots on the web.

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5. Creating Shortcuts

Shortcuts can be created to not just programs, you can also create shortcuts to frequently used files or folders.

To Create a Shortcut to a Webpage:

1. Go to the Web page you want your Shortcut to lead to.
2. Position your mouse somewhere on the Web page - but make sure your mouse isn't over an image.
3. Click your right mouse button. A pop-up menu appears.

4. Select Create Shortcut in the pop-up menu. A confirmation window appears.
5. Click OK to accept the setting. The shortcut appears on your desktop.

To Create a Shortcut to a Program or File:

To create a shortcut on the desktop to a program or file, there are two possible methods to choose from.

Method 1

1. Right-click an open area on the desktop, point to New, and then click Shortcut.
2. Click Browse.
3. Locate the program or file to which you want to create a shortcut, click the program or file, click Open, and then click Next.
4. Type a name for the shortcut. If a Finish button appears at the bottom of the dialog box, click it. If a Next button appears at the bottom of the dialog box, click it, click the icon you want to use for the shortcut, and then click Finish.

Method 2

1. Click Start, point to Program, and then right-click the program you want to create the shortcut to.
2. Select Send To then Click Desktop (Create Shortcut)

TIP: To remove a shortcut from your desktop: select it by clicking on it once, then press the Delete key on your keyboard.

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6. Changing Monitor Resolution

Having trouble reading your computer screen?  Maybe you would like to fit more “desktop” onto your monitor.  If so, you may need to change the RESOLUTION of your monitor.

By selecting Start, Control Panels, Display, and then on the “Settings” tab, you will see the following screen:

Using the slide bar under “Screen Resolution,” you can experiment with the best screen size for your needs.

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7. Changing Passwords

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8. Screen Saver Passwords

Do you want a little extra security on your computer to keep prying eyes away?  By selecting the check box beside “Password” when you change your screen saver, you will always be prompted for your password when waking up your screen saver.

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9. Hard Drive Maintenance

You change the oil in your car.  You change the vacuum cleaner bag.  You know preventive maintenance is always worth it.  Keep your computer in shape by using DISK CLEANUP and DISK DEFRAGMENTER.

Disk Cleanup is a utility (Start – Programs – Accessories – System Tools – Disk Cleanup) that searches for errors on your hard disk drive and repairs them as necessary.  Run this program periodically to insure a happy hard drive.

DISK DEFRAGMENTER (Start – Programs – Accessories – System Tools – Disk Defragmenter) is another utility for maintaining your hard drive.  From time to time, you should run this utility to reclaim wasted space on your computer.  This may also speed up your computer.

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10. Scanning for Viruses

Computer viruses are a very real threat for all computer users.  KISD considers the threat very serious and has taken steps to reduce that threat on the network.  However, there are some things that you can do to help. 

Email – Recently email has been the way that most viruses have spread.  Often the virus will be attached to a message as an attachment.  We do not recommend that you open email attachments unless you know specifically what is in the attachment.  NEVER OPEN AN ATTACHMENT THAT ENDS WITH “.VBS.”

Floppy Disks – Floppy disks can be very handy for carrying documents to and from school, but you must be very careful about which disks you use.  KISD strongly discourages the use of any student provided floppy disk.  FURTHER, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU SCAN ALL FLOPPIES BEFORE ACCESSING THE CONTENTS.

To scan a floppy disk, insert the disk into the disk drive, open “My Computer,” right-click on the floppy disk icon, and select “Scan for Viruses.”

For more information on viruses and scanning, you may click here to learn how to do a manual virus scan on your computer.

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