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Changing Your Screen Background: Setting Desktop Color Scheme 

• Right click on the desktop background. Put the mouse cursor on the desktop background (not on any icons) and Right click. 
• Click Properties. It's the last item in list. A window will appear. 
• Click the Appearance tab.  In the window, click Appearance. The desktop's current color scheme will be displayed. 
• Click on the down arrow. It's underneath and to the right of the word Scheme. A list of color schemes will appear. 
• Click Brick. The window will show what the Brick color scheme would look like applied to your desktop. Scroll to see more options.
• Play around with it--click on a bunch of color schemes until you find one you like. 
• Click Apply. This will set the color scheme when you find one that suits you. 

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• Right click on the desktop background. Put the mouse cursor on the desktop background (not on any icons) and Right click. 
• Click Properties. It's the last item on the list. A window will appear. 
• Click Tile. It's next to the word Display. 
• Click a pattern. Click on any of the patterns listed in the middle of the screen to see what that background pattern would look like on your computer. Scroll to see more options. 
• Click Apply. This will set the background pattern when you find one you like. 

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• Right click the Wagner College logo. A window will appear. 
• Click Set As Wallpaper. 
• Click the Web browser Minimize button. You should now be able to see your screen background. The graphic should be in the center of the screen. If it is, continue to step 4. Otherwise... 
•      Troubleshooting:
•      Did the graphic not appear on your background?
•      Are the colors wrong? 
• Right click on the screen background. A menu will appear. 
• Click Properties. It is the last option on the menu. 
• Click on Tile. It is under to the word Display and it shows a preview of what the tiled pattern looks like. Decide if you like Tile or Center better. 
• Click Apply to set the image. 

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Is your computer screen a dull gray? Make your work environment more enjoyable by sprucing up your desktop with a beautiful picture! 
(Note: Only for computers running Win 95/98 and Netscape or IE version 4.0 or higher.) 

• Pick your favorite image.
• Click on any of the size options to go to the full-sized version. 
• Click on the image with your Right mouse button. You'll get a list of choices.
• Choose "Set As Wallpaper."
• That's it! Take a look at your new, spruced-up desktop. 

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Most new computers today use 1024 x 768 resolution. If you have an older computer, a laptop, or a small screen, then 800 x 600 or 640 x 480 is probably better for you. If you just don't know, pick the largest one and give it a try.
Once it is on your screen, if it looks like it's cut off at the edges, it is too big for your screen. Repeat the steps with the 800 x 600 size. Any size will work, but some will look better than others! 

How can I change my desktop resolution?
One way to do this is to right-click on the desktop (make sure you’re not clicking on an icon), then select Properties.  Select the Settings tab and locate the Desktop Area bar.  By dragging the bar either to the left or right you can decrease or increase resolution.  A decrease in resolution will enlarge desktop icons and zoom in on programs and windows.  This will in-turn decrease the available room on the desktop.  By increasing the resolution the desktop icons get smaller and thus provide more room for other icons to be created.  Also, programs and windows get larger allowing for easier viewing of documents.  The recommended minimum resolution is 800x600.

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A virus is a program that, when deployed, infects other programs by altering them to include a replica of itself. Simply said, a virus makes a copy of itself over and over again, every time it's activated. 

Most viruses are fairly harmless, some are pranks, and some can do vast damage. Many virus myths exist; you might have seen these in emails--people writing saying such-and-such a virus has been released, and lookout! Often, these emails are hoaxes that lure innocent people into believing viruses exist, telling all their friends, wasting precious time and bandwidth, and causing general upset. 

Then, the best thing you can do to protect your computer is to visit one of the following sites to get the appropriate software for your computer: 

• Symantec's Norton AntiVirus software
• McAfee Anti-virus software

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That blue screen sure can be frightening! There are a variety of reasons that it appears. Common ones are Fatal Exception errors (always scary), General Protection Fault errors, and errors due to loss of a program's connection to a file somewhere on a network.

When you've got the blue screen blues, you'll need to reboot your computer. To do so, you can first try pressing Ctrl, Alt, & Del simultaneously. If your computer does not restart, try the reset button. 

In especially bad crashes, you may have to "cold boot." Turn off the computer completely, let it rest for a minute, and then turn it back on.

Often, crashes of this nature will leave file remnants around your hard drive that could cause problems down the road. Run scandisk to clean up any problems by following this procedure:

• Using Windows, choose the Start button.
• Select Programs
• Choose Accessories
• Click System Tools
• Start Scandisk

Although Windows has thoughtfully included scandisk in system utilities, I prefer Norton Utilities, as I think it does a better job of cleaning up disk errors.

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• One method is filtering software--programs that filter and block Web sites that contain language or content inappropriate for children and teens.
• Most experts agree that the first line of defense, however, is for parents to spend time with their kids talking about the issues.

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General instructions: This answer assumes you're using Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator with Windows 95 or higher. 

To download a file from the Web, follow the directions on the Web site from which you are downloading (they will vary). Typically, you will click on a link and then your browser will begin the process of downloading. A window will appear, and you should be given the option to tell your computer where to put the file you are downloading. I have a directory on my drive that I call "My Downloads," and I use this area for all downloads. This way, I always know exactly where my files are going.

Once the file is downloaded, open up Windows Explorer:

• Click the Start button on your Windows toolbar
• Select Programs
• Start Windows Explorers. The Windows Explorer window will open up, and you'll see all of your folders and files. 
• Open the folder where you downloaded the file. You'll see the file that you just downloaded. Double click on it, and Windows will automatically open the file and walk you through the installation process. 

Also, stick to reputable download sites for most of your downloading, such as ZDNet. There's no guarantee that you won't get a virus, but downloading from trusted sources significantly reduces your risk because these sites are consistently maintained and files are checked for problems before being uploaded.

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The problem is incompatibility with attachment formats between your and your friend's email software programs. There are many variations of incompatibility, but in most cases the cause is due to mail between proprietary online services like AOL and MSN (or with anyone using Outlook or Outlook Express as their mail reader) and a private ISP and standalone mail software like Eudora.

To fix the problem, one of you has to change to Mime format to accommodate the other. In Microsoft Outlook, this can be done by following these steps:

• Open Outlook. Select Tools / Options / Mail Format
• In the Message Format section of this dialog, Plain Text is  probably selected. If this is true,  click the Settings button.
• The Plain Text settings dialog will appear.
• Here, make sure the radio button next to Mime is clicked. Then, the drop down menu should be set to None. The 8-bit checkbox should be left blank.

If you're still having compatibility problems, visit your email software's Web site or call your Internet Service Provider:

• Microsoft Outlook
• Qualcomm's Eudora Software

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This is a very common problem in Windows and is usually due to the fact that Windows doesn't catalog these files. So, sometimes when you install new software, the files are overwritten to an older version. This causes all kinds of incompatibility problems and errors and is one of the most common causes of errors on Windows machines.

There's a quick way to find help, but this is only recommended for those individuals who are comfortable reading about computers and following directions, which usually means going through some complex hoops to get the computer fixed.

If you are ready to dig deeper, here's what to do:

• Go to http://search.microsoft.com/
• Enter the full name of the .DLL file that is causing you grief directly into the search word box.
• Make sure the search criteria are set to "Exact Phrase".
• Set the search category by clicking the radio button next to the "Support & the Knowledge Base" option in the search category list.
• Click the Search Now button.

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Your printer is set to "Landscape" rather than "Portrait".

When you've got the software you're using to print all ready to print a page, follow these steps:

• Select File / Print. The printing dialog box should appear.  It will differ depending upon your specific printer, but look for Paper and Orientation.
• You should see an option for Portrait and Landscape.  Choose the Portrait option for standard printing
• Click Ok

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All software application programs (like Word, Excel, Web browsers, email clients, and so forth) should be installed fresh. This is because each computer places files in different places and makes notations to the registry--the "brain" of Windows. 

Any data files, such as documents you've saved in Word, Excel, graphics, and so forth, can be transferred by saving the files to floppy disk, read/write-able CD ROM, a ZIP or Jazz disk. Then, you can copy the files to the new computer from that disk. 

Another method is to use a Web drive from the Web. Open a freedrive account from the http://www.freedrive.com then upload files in your Web drive and download to the new computer.
 

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Check to see that your sound is turned on in the CD Player itself:

• Click Start / Programs /  Accessories / CD Player.
• Under View, look at Volume Controls. See if everything is turned on properly. 

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If your email contains a weird symbol (an umlaut over a lowercase, followed by a lowercase b), you may be wondering if aliens are invading your email and news readers. Yes! The alien in question is called Microsoft Outlook Express version 5.0. With many rich features, Outlook Express also seems to have run into a compatibility problem with the way certain information is being formatted. It is not a harmful symbol and you can just ignore it if you are able to view your messages properly. 

Unfortunately, there is a major problem when Netscape news readers try to read this information. Not only do they get the alien symbol, but they can't see the body of the message! At this time, I am still researching a solution to the problem. One possible workaround is to ask your email friends to use plain text when sending email, but it is obviously impossible to ask people on public newsgroups to do this.

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• Go to the site with the file you're downloading. 
• Answer some questions. These are usually about your computer (for example, is it a PC or a Mac?), your operating system (Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Mac OS for example), and so forth. 
•  Choose the download location nearest you geographically. This will generally speed download times. 
•  Name the file.  In your computer's "Save As" window, name the file and choose a location in which to save it. 

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•  Large text files - You may wish to download large text files from the Internet such as the Independent Investigator's Report about President Smith. 
•  Forms - Many forms can be conveniently acquired online; for example, you can download tax forms from the Internal Revenue Service. 
•  Graphics and Photos - Photographs, drawings, and other artwork can be easily downloaded from the Web; for example, you might download a picture of your grandchild from your son's Web site. 
•  Software Programs 
• Freeware - Freeware is, quite simply, software that is free to download and use. Although freeware is generally copyrighted, the authors of the software have chosen to make it freely available. Notable examples include Netscape and Internet Explorer, which can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet. You can also download "bug fixes" and periodic updates to software you already own. 
• Shareware - Shareware is software you can try for free, but are asked to pay for should you decide to continue using it. While based on the honor system, payment and registration generally entitle the buyer to technical support and product updates. Software demos are a common type of shareware. Many companies offer free limited, or time-restricted, versions (that is, programs that will "shut off" after a designated period of time) of their software for download so that users may evaluate them. Many game downloads work this way. 
• Public Domain - Public Domain software is not copyrighted and can be used without restriction. 
•  Plug-ins - Think of a plug-in as a mini software program that adds a specific feature to a larger program. It's a bit like adding an option to your car: the basic vehicle will get you from point A to point B, but if you want to listen to Beethoven en route you'll need to "plug in" a tape deck or CD player. Similarly, your browser will allow you navigate the Internet, but if you want to listen to music or watch videos online, you'll need to add a plug-in that offers that capability. 

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 1. Creating a Folder 
   It will help you in the long run if you keep your files organized, and folders are an easy way to do that.

• Right click on your desktop, not on the icons, then a menu will appear.
• Highlight New. Another menu will appear next to the first one with the word Folder at the top. Click "Folder". 
• Rename the folder. In the Name field replace New Folder with the name Web Downloads. 

2. Download the file  (See the instructions on number 9)
3. Install the files

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If you want to rid yourself of the Office Assistant: Run Word (or Excel, or PowerPoint) and choose Help|Show the Office Assistant. When the Office Assistant opens, click Options. Deselect the check box labeled "Use the Office Assistant" and click OK. The Office Assistant won't bother you again unless you choose Help|Show the Office Assistant.

If you like the Office Assistant some of the time, you can use Help|Show the Office Assistant to toggle it on and off.

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There are several different ways that this can be done, one way is to right-click on  the desktop and go to New, inside of new you'll find Shortcut. By clicking the Browse             button, you will be able to find the program or file which you want a shortcut created for.

Customize the  Start Menu
There are a few ways this can be done as well, one way is to right-click the Taskbar (bar which has the Start button and the clock.)  Upon right-clicking you will see Properties.  In Properties you click the Start Menu Programs tab and proceed to click on either the Add, Remove, or Advanced buttons.

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What are macros and what they do?

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How do I add/remove toolbars to either Excel or Word?
To add/remove toolbars you select the View menu followed by Toolbars.  From here you select the toolbars that you’d like to appear when you are using either Excel or Word.  (By selecting too many toolbars you will clutter the program and decrease the available typing space.)

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• Right click My Computer and select Properties/Performance/File system/CD-ROM.
• In the setting section of dialog box, set the supplimental cache size to Large and the 'Optimize access pattern for' speed settings to Quad-speed ot higher. 
• Click OK, close and restart the system.
• If performance has not impoved, change the CD-ROM settings back to the defaults.

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• Select View/Internet Options/Advanced tab, and in the Multimedia catagory, uncheck Show pictures.
• Click Apply, then OK

• Select Edit/Preferences/Advanced and uncheck Automatically load images, then click OK.
• To view a page's images while you are online, just click the Display Inages button at the top of the screen.

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• When you're ready to print, choose File/Print. At the bottom of the Print dialog, set Print: to Odd Pages, then choose OK.
• After all the odd pages are printed, remove the stack and place it into the paper tray with the blank side facing the correct direction. If the document ends on an odd page, remove that page. Otherwise, eveything will be off by one page.
• Return to ther Print dialog. Choose Options, enable Reverse print order, choose OK. 
• Set print: to Even pages, then choose OK.

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• Gridlines are a screen-only design feature. To add borders that will print, you can set the insertion point anywhere in the table, choose Table/Table autoformat and select a predefined format. One of the eight grid designs might work for you.
• Or you can select the entire table or specific cells.
• On the Fromatting toolbar, click the Borders dropdown arrow to open the Borders palette, and then click the All Borders tool.

• To work exclusive in points, choose Tools/Options/General tab and set Measurement units to Points then choose OK.
• If you set Picas as a measurement unit, points are given as decimal fractions of picas, not as points.  This setting remains in effect for all documents until you change it. Or you can simply specify picas(pi) or points (pt)as needed.
• Word uses these equivalents:

• To enter a setting of 15 picas, you could type 15pi in the appropriate settings box. Type 180 pt to enter the equivalent setting in points.
• If you mixes picas and points, you will have to do the conversions. If the measurement given is 1p3 (1 pica plus 3 points), you can enter it as 1.25 pi or 15 pt.