Tips and Tricks
I've collected the things readers of my books ask me about most frequently, and placed them on this page. (I've tossed in the answers, too.)Fixing Computer Problems
- Fixing Windows with System Restore
- Backing up your computer before it's too late
- Solving the HHCTRL.OCX error message mystery
Windows XP Privacy
- What private information does Windows XP track, and how can I stop it?
- How do I control "cookies"?
- Keeping previously typed words from appearing below forms
- Erasing your Recently Opened Files list
- Deleting Media Player's list of recently played files
- Deleting Internet Explorer's History of Web sites you've visited
- Deleting items listed in Media Player's Media Library
Windows Vista Tips
- Adding a Desktop shortcut to your dial-up Internet connection
- Putting the On/Off button back on Vista's log on screen
Windows
XP Tips
- How do I uninstall Windows Messenger?
- Printing portions of a Web page
- Removing spyware from your PC
- Dealing with files marked "read only" when copied from a CD
- How do I stop those Windows Messenger Service popup ads?
- Using Windows XP's hidden fax program.
- People from Guest and Limited accounts can install programs and see my Administrator account files!
- My Guest account can't dial up the Internet!
- What are Windows XP's most helpful yet most hidden features?
- How do I put my Quick Launch icons back on the Taskbar?
- Where's the Clipboard Viewer in Windows XP?
- How do I turn on the Firewall?
- Is Windows XP's firewall "good enough"?
- How do I make Windows XP work more like my old version of Windows?
- Is the Jdbgmgr.exe Bear really a virus? And what if I've already deleted it!
General Purpose Windows Tips
- Why doesn't
your book
explain all the Windows programs on my
computer?
- How do I make windows open to the correct size?
- How do I uninstall programs that don't want to uninstall?
General E-mail Tips
- What's this "blind carbon copy" e-mail feature people say I'm supposed to use?
- Resizing digital photos to send through e-mail
- Saving e-mailed photos to a folder on your own PC
- Why can't I open attachments in Outlook Express anymore?
- How can I spellcheck mail in Outlook Express?
- Removing old email addresses before forwarding a piece of e-mail