What to do If You Are Unable to Change your Search Provider

If you are unable to change Internet Explorer search provider using the normal way of tools-manage addons  I'm posting this solution in case anyone searches for it. For anyone using IE11 who can't add Google (or any other search engine to IE)here's the way to fix it.
Go to another machine running IE11 (it would be best if that machine is running the same OS as you but in my case my problem was in Windows 8.1 and my other machine is Windows 10 Technical Preview.)
On OTHER computer add whatever search provider you want to IE using tools-manage addons
Go to regedit-HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
highlight "searchscopes" and export the key  to a file by clicking file-export-save file as searchscopes_good.reg
close regedit
Copy the .reg file you just exported to a flash drive.
(Don't forget to remove whatever search provider you added to this OTHER computer.)
Go to PROBLEM computer.  To be safe make a system restore point.
Open regedit and navigate to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\.
Export the key "searchscopes" to a file and name it searchscopes_old.reg
Put the flash drive in and right click on the searchscopes_good.reg file-select "merge"
You can now use tools-manage addons to set your default search provider.  If it doesn't work just go to wherever you saved the searchscopes_old.reg-right click and merge.
Hope this keeps someone else from spending hours on this problem like I did.  No matter what I did I could not change my search from that danged Bing.

Solution to problem "Sorry, something unexpected happened and Windows Live Mail must close."

This issue is usually a result of your contacts folder becoming corrupted or being empty.  At least that is what I found in my case.  I will not take credit for the solution which I found here http://reedone816.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/common-error-in-windows-live-mail/

Just a matter of renaming the contacts folder to .old.  Let me point out that this same error will occur when the contacts folder is empty so after renaming the folder you will get the error when you open live mail again until you add at least one contact.  The solution noted on that web page was written for old XP so also note that in Windows 7 and 8 the contacts folder is located at c:\users\your name\appdata\local\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts.  In order for you to be able to see the appdata folder you must first go to control panel-folder options-view tab and tick the "show hidden files and folders".  Don't forget to untick this when you are finished. Reboot for the changes to take effect.

If you are having this issue I hope that you have a good exported copy of all your contacts so that you can import them back into WLM.  If not you'll have to add them back manually.

Hope this helps someone.

How to Remove Passwords Saved in a Browser

To remove saved passwords from Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Click the Tools menu and then Internet Options.
3. Within the Internet Options window, click the content tab.
4. Click the Autocomplete button.

Within this window you can click Clear forms to clear all form data except for passwords and click Clear Passwords to clear the passwords.  In addition to clearing these fields, if you do not want Internet Explorer to save this data in the future, you may uncheck any of the available boxes in this window

To remove saved passwords from Firefox

1. Click the menu button  and choose Options. (Menu is 3 horizontal lines)Preferences
2. Click the Security panel.
3. Click Saved Passwords... and the Password Manager will open.
4. To see the passwords you have saved, click Show Passwords. 
5. To remove a username and password, select it from the list and click Remove.
6. To remove all stored usernames and passwords, click Remove All. After confirming this choice, all of your stored usernames and passwords will be deleted.

To remove saved passwords in Google Chrome

You have to delete saved passwords one at a time.

1.     Click the Chrome’s menu icon at the top right of the window to expand it. (Menu is 3 horizontal lines)

2.     From the menu, choose Settings.

3.     Scroll down to the bottom, and click Show advanced settings . 

4.     Find the Passwords and forms section, and click Manage saved passwords.  A new window will pop up on the screen which shows you the list of websites that currently have passwords stored on the hard drive. Find the website and the password that you want to erase, and click the X button to remove it.

T   To removed passwords saved in Safari

If Safari is set to automatically fill in user names and passwords for you, you can turn off this feature and delete any user names and passwords that Safari stored.

1. Open Safari if it is not already open.
2. Choose Safari > Preferences, and then click AutoFill.
3. Deselect the “User names and passwords” checkbox, and then click the Edit button next to it.
4. Select one or more items in the list and click Remove, or click Remove All.
   Removing user names and passwords in Safari deletes them from your OS X keychain.
5. Click Done.

Switching KVM Changes Display to Low Resolution

If you use a KVM to share your monitor, mouse, and keyboard between computers and are having problems with your display reverting back to low resolution every time you switch your KVM then this posting is for you.  Here's what you do to keep this from happening. Be sure to export your current registry keys before making any changes so you can easily go back to your original setting if need be.

First, go into your power options.  Turn off sleep, hybrid sleep, and hibernate.  If you have a screensaver get rid of it.  If you don't know how to change any of these options google how to do it in your particular operating system.  Each version of Windows is different so I can't list instructions for each of them here.


Next, open regedit.  Browse to HKey_Local_Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Configuration
Locate the key for your monitor. Normally the first few characters will match your vendor. In my case, I use a Viewsonic display, and my key starts out with VSCE********
Expand this key and both of the 00 subkeys. Under the first 00 subkey, document the values for PrimSurfSize.cx, PrimSurfSize.cy, and Stride. Then go to the nested 00 subkey and document the values for ActiveSize.cx and ActiveSize.cy.


Next, locate the key starting with SIMILATED.  Modify the values within this key to match the values you noted in the previous step.


Then locate the key starting with KVM and modify its values the same way.


This should fix your problem.  Your monitor's resolution should remain at its native setting.
 Note that sometime when switching back after an extended period of time you have to wait 10 seconds or so for the resolution to change when using this method.  If it doesn't then log out andthen log back in.  There's no need to reboot.

You Should Be Checking Regularly for Optional Windows Updates

Most people don't know that all updates from Microsoft are not automatically downloaded to their computer.  You should regularly check for optional updates to your computer.  These keep your drivers updated as well as your operating system.  You have to manually download & apply all optional updates .

If you do not know how to check for updates, here's how.

XP-open control panel-click on Windows Update on left side of page.
Click on "check for updates".

After it scans you will have 2 options-express & custom. Select Custom.

On left side of page it breaks down the updates by high priority software and hardware.
Click on high priority and check all updates it found.
Click on Software and check all the updates it found.
Then click on Hardware (these are you driver updates) Check everything it found.

You will be given a chance to review all updates.

Click on "install updates"

Restart your computer if required.

(There may be some software updates you do not want-such as Bing Desktop, etc.  You can hide these updates by clicking on the individual update and check hide update box)

Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8 is much more straightforward.-open control panel.  Click on the drop down arrow next to "view by" and select small icons. 

Scroll down to the bottom to Windows Update.

Once you have Windows update open, on left hand side click "check for updates".

Once the scan is complete it will tell you that you have optional updates.  Click on the blue message and check each update.  Unlike XP both software and hardware optional updates appear together.  You can right click any update you don't want and select the "hide update" option. After updates are selected click on install updates.

(if you choose not to apply an update you can right click on it and select "hide" so you will never see it again)

Restart your computer if required.

 

 

 

The Hidden Power of Your Mouse (and Keyboard)

The Hidden Power of Your Mouse (and Keyboard)

 

I would bet a dollar to a donut that 99% of the computer users in this world are using round about ways and multiple mouse clicks to accomplish their tasks when most times only one or 2 clicks is necessary.  I have put together a list of mouse tricks that I hope some of you will utilize in your every-day computing.  Although there are many more things your mouse can do for you, I am only listing the ones that are most used in day to day stuff.   I suggest you take one or two at a time and use it until it becomes automatic for you.  Then move on to the other ones.

To highlight text –click on first character of selected text then hold Shift and and click on last character of selected text. Release shift key.  This highlights everything in between.

 To select multiple pieces of text – hold down CTRL while selecting. I have only gotten this trick to work within Word.

 

To Highlight only a word-double click on that word

 To highlight a whole paragraph – triple click within the paragraph

To highlight a column without all the text to the left or right –hold down the ALT and drag cursor over the section you want to select.

 

My favorite -To use scroll wheel as a back button- hold shift key while scrolling backward or forward.  You can fly through all the sites you’ve visited.

You all know about the right-click context menu.  If you hold the Shift key while doing a right-click you are given an extended menu that gives you hidden options.

Maximize window-You don’t have to click on the tiny maximize button in upper right corner.  Try double clicking on the center of the title bar instead.

You can close a window by double clicking on the left end of the window title bar.

 

We all know that we can use the mouse to drag and drop items, even multiple ones. Did you know that is makes a difference what keyboard keys you are pushing while you use the mouse to drag and drop items? While dragging and dropping, hold down the [CTRL] key to copy items. Use the [SHIFT] key to move items.

If you ever forget which keys to hold for what effect, just try to drag & drop items with the right mouse button instead of the left mouse button! Once you release the mouse button to drop the items, this will bring up a context menu that asks you what you want to do, i.e. copy here, move here, or create a shortcut

 

Scroll Wheel or Middle Mouse Button Tricks

To open a link in a new tab in your browser, instead of left clicking it, try to middle click it.  When you go to close that tab, middle click it.

Zoom- Hold the CTRL as you use your mouse’s scroll wheel  to increase or decrease text size
 

While I’m at it here are a few of the most useful keyboard shortcuts.  There are over a 100 but I can’t remember them all so these are the ones I use most (In case you don’t know what the Win key is, it’s the flying windows logo key in bottom left corner of keyboard.  Some keyboards have 2 win keys, one on left and another on right)

 

Win key brings up your start menu
 

Win + D shows or hides desktop . Hit Win + D to show desktop then hit Win+d again to go to your last open window.

SHIFT+DELETE  Deletes selected item or items  permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.

ALT + Tab – Switch between open items

Win + E-bring up Explorer (same as “My Computer”)

 Win + spacebar makes all open windows transparent to view icons on desktop

Win + tab-launch 3d representation of all open windows. Then use tab key to flip through the windows.

 

Win + left or right arrow docks selected window to left or right side of your screen. This lets you have 2 open windows side by side.

F2-rename selected item

Win + M minimizes all windows

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   Are thieves stealing your internet?

 

This one is not so much a tutorial as it is an advisory and is directed to those of you connecting to the internet wirelessly.  Keep in mind as you read this, that the term wireless internet includes cell based mifi/wifi connections AND home networks connected to a router.  Your PC may be connected to your router with an Ethernet cable but your network is still a wireless network.

Do you sometimes notice your internet connection slower than normal? It’s possible that you’re sharing it with others and not knowing it. It might be one of your neighbors tapping into your internet bandwidth or a malicious hacker has tapped into your wifi?  There are many casual   bandwidth thieves who find an open network and think they can borrow it. If they find one that is password protected they go on and find one that isn't. If you haven’t bothered to assign a wifi access password (security key), the front door to your network is wide open.  Also, you need to have changed your router’s default password.  Since all routers come from the manufacturer with default passwords set, anyone with the tiniest bit of computer knowledge can change anything in your router configuration they want to.  I can say this as a fact—Of every home I have entered to work on a computer, 90% of them have either NOT changed the default password of their router or are running an unprotected, no password access network. (Or both of the above) I think this is because when you connect a router  it automatically works as is so many people just leave it that way rather than taking time to set it up protected. This is bad business.

A malicious cyber-thief is another matter. He is not out to just use your internet service but to steal your information which he may use or sell. He can hack into your network's computers, steal your information or use your service for illegal reasons.  Anything done on your network can be traced back to you when the real culprit has done his dirty deed and moved on.  This sort of thief is skilled and can access your network easily.  That is why your network password should be strong enough that it is very difficult to crack.

 

The following is an excerpt from ttp://askbobrankin.com/is_someone_stealing_my_wifi.html?pcp that explains it better than I can.

 

"Windows and Apple computers have built-in utilities that show what devices are connected to your network. You can use these tools to look for unknown computers that should not be connecting to your network. Obviously, the first step is to know what devices are authorized. Each authorized computer should be assigned a computer name that you can recognize easily, i.e., “Jane’s PC” or “Billy-iPod”. Other devices, such as printers, will have built-in names such as “HP Model 8600;” you should be familiar with what you own and how it is identified on your network. 

 

Here’s how to detect  who is connected to your wireless network.

If you are using Windows 7 or Windows 8 it’s pretty easy.(and I believe Vista, as well, although I do not have a Vista computer to verify this)  In Windows 7, click the Start button and type “network” in the search box. Double-click on the word “Network” which should be the first item in the search results. A three-part display of connected devices will appear: computers, media devices, and network infrastructure. “Computers” will include PCs, smartphones, and tablets. “Media devices” include printers, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and the like. “Network infrastructure” includes your router and the modem to which it connects, typically labeled “Internet gateway device.” Note that for some reason, connected iPods and smartphones do not show up here. An unauthorized device will probably be among the “computers” listed, but if (for example) you see an Xbox that doesn’t belong to you, you obviously have an interloper. Apple OS X computers have a similar utility. You can access it via Finder > Go > Network.

 

Your router’s configuration program provides a better view of ALL devices connected to your network. By logging into your router, you can see a list of devices that currently have IP addresses assigned to them. Consult your router’s documentation (or Google it) to learn how to access this list. Devices that may appear in this list include desktop and laptop computers, tablets and ebook readers, iPods, smartphones, wireless printers, streaming devices such as Roku or AppleTV, gaming consoles, and television set-top boxes. Many routers also store logs of past connections, which you can peruse to see what devices connected when you weren’t looking. If you don't know how to login to your router, or you don't know the password, ask your Internet Service Provider for help, or read the documentation that came with your router. "

 Folks, keep in mind that if you have an unprotected wireless router and you have your computer plugged into it with an Ethernet cable, thieves can still come in the back door and access your PC.

 

If you do not know how to access your router’s configuration page, seek help in getting your network set up as it should be.  Don’t leave yourself wide open to your neighbors or a cybercriminal looking to steal your information.