Below are frequently asked questions about computers and the Internet and where on this site you can find an answer. Click on the link in the Question for our Answer. To search this site using a "Key Word", click here.

Categories

E-mail

• Why doesn't my e-mail receive attachments or see pictures that are included (I see red Xs)? Answer for Outlook Express; for Outlook.
• I want to e-mail photos but they are too large - how can I compress them.
• How can I help people who can't open my WORD or EXCEL attachments?
• People send me photos and the attachment has a .pps (or .ppt or .pot) suffix. I don't have PowerPoint so how do I open them? Also I can't open .wks files.
• I want to change from Outlook Express but I don't want to buy a new program.
• I get overlapping text on my e-mails. What might be the cause?
• There are two people in our home who use the same computer and we even have two e-mail accounts but how do I keep their e-mails separate?
• What is SMTP Authentication?
• How do I disable Windows Messenger when I turn on Outlook or Outlook Express?
• I have dial-up, how do I disable downloading large attachments?

My own Web Site

• What is required to make a web site?
• How can I get my own web site and how much would it cost - everything included?

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Searching and Browsing

• How can I integrate Google (or other search engines) into my browser Toolbar?
• I know a site exists, but a Google search does not find it. Why?
• I want to find out what's happening in Cobourg - any ideas?
• Is that story I just read (on the Internet), or photo I just saw, really true?
• I can't play some Multi-Media Files (e.g. mp3) when using Firefox? Do I need to add a plug-in?

Security & Privacy

• What are all the different threats and which are serious?
• How can I scan for Viruses before I buy and install an Anti-Virus program?
• What do I do to protect from Spyware?
• Can I reduce Advertising and Spam?
• How do I find out if an e-mail warning me of a Virus is a Hoax?
• Should I change away from Microsoft's Internet Explorer? I've heard that it is inherently insecure.
• What is a firewall and what's the best kind?
• What are cookies?
• How can I control cookies without completely stopping them?
• Internet Explorer saves every entry I make in the URL window. Also Outlook saves all addresses I've used. How do I delete these lists?
• How can I protect against my Hard Drive being damaged?
• I entered data into a form (or address field) that was incorrect but it's still there. How do I delete this data?

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Buying or Upgrading a Computer

• What should I know about Hardware so I can decide what I need?
• What size of display should I use? What are most people using?
• Vendors often offer Word Perfect. Should I get this or spend extra for Microsoft's Office?
• I just bought a digital camera and I plan to hook it to my computer. What Printer should I use?
• There are many digital cameras available to buy. Can you help me with my decision?

Computer Tune-up

• Where do I start if I want to improve my computer's performance. Can I do a Tune-up myself?
• How can I test if my Computer is running OK?
• How can I improve the Performance of my Computer?
• Is there a free Registry Clean-up Tool?
• I think I have a hardware problem. Can you help?
• How can I adjust Windows XP and/or get a feature from a previous Windows version?
• Adobe Reader (.pdf files) take too long to come up. How do I speed this up?
• Word won't start at all - everything else is OK - can you help?
• What are widgets?
• How do I know which process belongs to what and which to stop? Would a program called Process Explorer help?

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File Management

• How can I undelete (restore) a file that I just accidentally deleted?
• How can I permanently delete files that have been deleted? I don't want others to use "Restoration" or similar on my disk drive.
• Is there a better utility for renaming files in batches? (for one file, press F2 key).
• How can I make (write) an Adobe Acrobat Reader File without buying the full priced product (I'm a Scot!)?
• Someone sent me a file that I can't open. What do I do?
• Someone told me to save/change/look-at a file but I can't even find the folder. How do I look at Hidden Files?
• I have a file I can't move, delete or rename - what do I do?

Network 2 or more Computers

• I have high speed and I want to share the service (modem) with two (or more) computers.
• Is there a way to simply connect computers so they can "back-up" to each other?

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Tricks and Tweaks

• Word and Excel insist on converting all my URLs and e-mail addresses into hyperlinks making it difficult to edit them. How do I stop this happening?
• Can I print the screen exactly as I see it?
• How can I edit an Adobe Document without buying the full Adobe product?
• What is Quick Launch and how will it help me?
• Windows refuses to delete a file! I press delete but nothing happens - what's the problem?
• Windows always seem to open the wrong size. How do I fix this?
• Word won't start or hangs during start-up? Any suggestions?
• How do I get interesting Icons for my desktop shortcuts?

Free Stuff

• What are the best free sites?
• I would like to have Microsoft's Access Data Base Program but it's too expensive. Is there something free?
• I don't understand all the computer jargon. Where can I find what they all mean?
• Where can I get Clip-art, Graphics, wallpaper and Smileys?
• How can I add the day & date to the clock in the System tray (for free!)?
• Do you know where I can get free games?
• I've never seen a free, good Computer Bridge Game. Do you have one?

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Photos

• How do I view photos on a Computer?
• How can I make a slide show of my photos?
• Can I view RAW images without buying Photoshop?
• What Image software should I use?

Printing

• When I print some web pages, some of the words on the right are cut off. How can I fix this?
• When I print a photo, it is often too big (or small). How do I print at the size I want?
• When I print colour photos, they don't look the same as they did on the screen. How do I calibrate colour?

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If your question was not above, first search this site using a key word or two. Then try searching the internet with Google then search other help sites similar to this one. If you are still stuck, perhaps you should click Professional Computer Services.