This is another question that I hear all the time. Most computer beginners do not understand the concept of a zip file. Even intermediate computer users still don’t know how to properly handle zip files. I see people of all skill levels doing weird things with zip files. Things such as trying to access the data within the zip file without extracting. Or, saving the zip file itself when what they really want is the contents. It is clear that there is a lot of confusion regarding these special files. Help is on the way! Today we will do a lesson on the mysterious zip file. (more…)

Microsoft Office has been a leading seller for over a decade in the department of office software. This software bundle includes the famous Microsoft Word word processor, powerful Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program, and the great Microsoft Powerpoint presentation suite; this is only to name a few. This software suite is very popular in industry. Many people have become fluent operators of these programs, and even list these skills on their resume! So why is this software suite so popular? To make a long story short, I will say this: Microsoft Office comes pre-installed with many new computers. The software comes bundled into the deal when your purchase a computer from Future Shop or MDG. Here is the problem with Microsoft Office though: It is extremely expensive; I have seen some professional versions selling in retail stores for upwards of $1000.00! So what about the rest of us who can’t afford that price tag? Our computers didn’t come pre-installed with Microsoft Office! Is there something we can do about it? That answer is YES. Simply go to paragraph 2 (more…)

Malware is software that is dangerously intrusive in nature and installed without the computer users’ consent. The word “malware” is a combination of the words “malicious” and “software.” There are many common terms that people use to describe computer “bugs” such as viruses, spyware, adware, trojans, and worms. These are technically different types of malicious software, yet all fall under the umbrella of malware. Malware can refer to any of the aforementioned computer “bugs,” and others too! (more…)

One of the best ways to share multimedia on the internet is by using a filesharing program.  A filesharing program is a computer program which uses the internet to send out and receive multimedia files including pictures, songs, and videos. Basically, you first designate a folder on your computer as sharable. That is, everything in that folder will be available for other members of the filesharing network to download. You can also search to see what other people are sharing. So you can give (upload) files to others, and take (download) files from others. Thats how it works. (more…)

If you have to enter your password to login to Windows everytime you start your computer, you may be wasting your time. Entering a password to get into the Windows system may be good for some applications, however unnecessary for most single-user home machines. For example, passwords are a must in the world of corporate security at work; you don’t want just anybody jumping on the machine and accessing the data. In contrast, most people at home don’t want the hassle of having to enter their password every time they start up the machine; its just another time-consuming step. Unless, of course you want to keep your children off the computer, and your childrens’ friends, and their friends… In this case, keep the passwords right where they are! Otherwise, say adios password screen. On that note, we are going to walk through the process of disabling the Windows login screen. If you don’t want a password on your system, REMOVE IT (more…)

The famous Microsoft Double Click. Computer users across the globe have become accustomed to double clicking on EVERYTHING! It’s like we were born a bred to double click on a computer; quite frankly I don’t ever remember being taught to do this. It was instinctual Seriously though, many computer beginners, novices, and even intermediates still do not know where they should be double clicking, and where they should be single clicking. Well, today we are going to make things a whole lot simpler. It is a little known fact that Microsoft has provided the option to single click where you would otherwise have double clicked. We are going to walk through the simple process of setting this up on a Windows XP / Vista based machine. I think this option is great for seniors who sometimes do not have great finger dexterity. Heck, it makes life easier for everybody - Even I use the single click option! (more…)

Have you ever wanted a great image editing program that wouldn’t cost you a dime? Why spend money on programs like Adobe Photoshop when you can have the same advanced capabilities for free? Good question. Instead, try using the GIMP. (more…)

The mysterious computer virus. Does it really mean the computer has caught a cold? Should we prescribe it some medicine? Take it to the family doctor? What are computer viruses, and how do they spread? Today we are going to look into these common questions and shed light on their answers. (more…)