ADELAIDE'S TECHGUY

File Extensions - Turn Them On

One thing that many Windows users forget to do is to enable the viewing of file extensions.

You are then able to see whether a file is a jpeg , gif , exe.

This is done through the control panel or Windows  Explorer and removing the tick in " Hide Extensions for known file types.

This will also save you when you think you are about to open a photo but it is actually an executable file ( .exe)

My Computer Will Not Boot - One Solution

If your computer will not boot and the screen looks like it is stuck , try this , turn the power off , disconnect every peripheral device ( USB , Firewire , Modem etc ) connected to the computer and turn on the power and try to reboot.

These devices can and do sometimes prevent the computer from rebooting.

If the computer reboots then reconnect the devices one at a time rebooting between connections to find out the device you may have been having trouble with.

PDF Alternatives , Do You Really Need Adobe ?

When it comes to opening PDF's Adobe has cornered the market but here are some great alternatives to use without using Adobe.

Fox It Reader is a great lightweight tool for reading PDFs and it's free

Cute PDF is great for creating PDFs and reading and it's free

Finally remember if you have a Google Account you will be able to open PDFs in G Mail.

Adobe has had a few security issues lately so it always pays to check for an updated version and do not turn off the automatic update checker.

Playing Computer Games , Try Game Booster

If you are looking for a software solution to assist when playing PC Games try Game Booster which as the website describes "Designed to help optimize your PC for smoother, more responsive game play in the latest PC games with the touch of a button, Game Booster helps achieve the performance edge previously only available to highly technical enthusiasts. It works by temporarily shutting down background processes, cleaning RAM, and intensifying processor performance. That means you can keep all the features of Microsoft® Windows Vista® and XP® ready for when you need them, but turn them off when you are ready to get down to serious business – gaming. Game Booster makes it simpler to enjoy the latest games and take your experience to a new level. "
Best of all it's FREE

Can't Open Attachments In Windows Mail ?

Had a call last Friday from a business that was unable to open PDF attachments in Windows Mail.
After checking the security settings , I decided to check whether there was an update to Adobe Reader.
Yes there was , (update had been turned off) , updated Adobe and attachments could now be opened.
This is another reason to update as it also addresses compatibility between software applications as well as the usual reasons , security etc.

Do I Really Need That To Play That Movie

So you surf the internet , see a clip or movie that you can download and you download it , attempt to run it and your computer stops , then says to play this you will need to go on the internet to find the correct codec ( or words to that effect ).

This is where you should stop.

You are probably about to be infected by spyware or a virus  if you agree to download or search for the codec.

Your best bet is to get the VLC Player which can play most video files , dvd's , cd's , streaming media , check out the site for the full list. 

Alternatively download the K Lite Codec pack .

If the file will still not play delete it and run a full virus / spyware scan. 

Selecting Multiple Files And Folders - A Better Way

In Windows ( Vista and Windows 7 ) there is a better way to select multiple files and folders rather than the old " shift " key.

If you go into your control panel , select folder options , click on View , go to advanced settings , scroll down and place a tick in  ' Use check boxes to select items ".

You will then be able to open a folder up and it will have check marks available to select files.

I Need Different Software

Looking for alternative's or replacements for software you currently use , such as Photoshop , Nero etc.
Then try Alternative To where you will be offered suggestions for software ,that is broken down into categories ( Windows , Mac , Linux or online ).

Virtual Machines - The Best Of Both Worlds

I am a user of Virtual Machines on my Macbook Pro and you may ask the question , what is a virtual machine?
In simple terms it is an operating system that runs inside your main operating system.
In a Mac you need 2 things to make sure this happens smoothly , Ram ( I run 4GB and hard drive space ).
I run Leopard and by using Vmware Fusion  I also can run Windows XP , Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Using Vmware I am able to run Leopard and Windows at the same time , so for exmple if I opened a photo and wanted to edit it , I could use Photoshop in Windows to do this at the same time.

This in Vmware is called running in unity.
This can be done with all Windows applications.

If you experience a problem with Windows you can revert to a "snapshot" of the system that you took when you installed it or you can just dump it and reinstall.
You should install an antivirus , spyware solution as it is Windows and Vmware comes with McAfee ( not a huge fan of them )but you could install any solution ( I run AVG free ) .
Remember if you switch from Windows to the Mac , this solution enables you to use your Windows software without purchasing Mac software.
You will need a full copy of Windows to install not an upgrade ( there is a way around this with Vista ).

There are alternatives to Vmware , such as Parallels and Virtualbox

Virtualbox is free , Vmware is $136.70 and Parallels is $125.20 ( prices as of the 15th May )

A Great Feature Of IE8

 

One of the great features of the new version of Internet Explorer 8 apart from the security is the ability to select text.

In past versions when using your mouse and trying to select text you would get images , placeholders etc along with the text.

In IE8 you use your mouse, select the text you need and copy, and the text is all you get.

I know you can do this in Firefox but it is another great feature of IE8.