TechAdvisory.org » newsletter_techtip

Relief from “USB Device Not Recognized” Errors

Editor — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:32:50 +0000

Are you getting a “USB device not recognized” error for a USB mouse, keyboard, or other USB device? Already tried normal fixes, such as uninstalling and reinstalling the driver, but it’s still not working? A possible solution may surprise you.
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Password Protect Folders in Windows 7 or Vista

Editor — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:33:34 +0000

Do you want to lock and password-protect your important folders in Windows 7 or Vista? If you have multiple accounts including one with administrator privileges in Windows 7 / Vista, then you can set access privileges for individual folders.
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Tips for improving your efficiency with dual monitors

Editor — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 04:43:05 +0000

Web-worker Daily shares some useful tips on how to improve your efficiency using dual monitors with your computer. Both Mac OS and Windows support dual monitors, and you can get two 20-inch monitors for less money than what it would take to buy a larger display. Read more

http://webworkerdaily.com/2009/06/02/3-efficiency-tips-for-using-dual-monitors/

Removing your logo’s background for Microsoft PowerPoint

Editor — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:50:19 +0000

Want to get rid of that annoying white box that appears around your logo when you place it in PowerPoint? ZDNet’s Techguide shares a useful tip on how to remove the background so your logo looks great on any color slide. Read more

http://www.zdnetasia.com/remove-that-annoying-background-from-your-company-logo-62063214.htm

Air Travel Tips with Your Mobile Devices

Editor — Mon, 24 May 2010 08:09:41 +0000

There are plenty of general tips at various websites and blogs for air travelers, but few address travelling with your laptop and gadgets in tow. The following advice will save you time and perhaps even make the trip a more pleasant experience.

Keep it light. Bring the absolute minimum you need. Stuff can easily get lost, shuffled around, or become quite heavy in a run from one gate to the next. If you’re a frequent traveler opt for a netbook or an ultralight laptop. And if a PDA or smartphone will serve your needs, use that instead.

Carry it on. Don’t put your gear in your check-in luggage – you’d be appalled at how your luggage is handled at some airports. It’s routinely stacked, thrown around, and dropped. Always bring your expensive electronic equipment on board with you.

Be prepared to unpack it. In many airports, you’ll be asked to unpack your laptop for x-ray. Normally you’ll be asked to put it in a bin on the conveyor belt for x-ray. Make sure to use a carrying bag that’s easy to open and repack.

Be alert. It’s very common for technology items to be stolen in airports and even on the plane. Never let your items out of your sight. Don’t leave them behind where they can get lost, and always be on guard.

Keep it accessible. Airport regulations require you to shut off your device during the takeoff and landing. Keep your devices easily accessible, preferably near your body or tucked into the pocket seat in front of you. If you have information stored in your phone or mobile device such as your itinerary, the person who is picking you up at the airport, rental car information, etc., you’ll thank yourself later for keeping it within easy reach.

Traveling can be exciting, but without the proper preparation can also be a pain. Hopefully these tips will help make your next air travel adventure more pleasant.

Access your Favorite Websites Quickly

Editor — Fri, 21 May 2010 07:35:12 +0000

You can create a keyboard shortcut for your favorite websites using Internet Explorer. Read more

http://www.computerhope.com/tips/tip1.htm

5 Business Uses for a Digital Frame

Editor — Fri, 21 May 2010 07:16:31 +0000

Inc.com posted five business uses for your digital frame, including using it as a presentation tool at tradeshows or as an ice breaker before a meeting. Read more

http://www.inc.com/tech-blog/5-business-uses-for-a-digital-frame.html?partner=newsletter_Goods

Add the Quick Launch Bar to the Taskbar in Windows 7

Editor — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:51:14 +0000

The new Windows 7 taskbar allows you to dock items to the taskbar, combining the features of both the normal taskbar as well as Quick Launch. But what if you want to bring back the Quick Launch Bar to the Taskbar in Windows 7?

Make the Windows 7 Taskbar Work More Like Windows XP or Vista

Editor — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:48:43 +0000

The single most visible change in Windows 7 is the new “dock style” taskbar, which shows icons instead of buttons, with all application windows combined within a single button. The first question many people will have is “How do I turn it off?” – and this article will show you how.

Access Frequently Used Items in Windows 7 with Jump Lists

Editor — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:49:41 +0000

Finding a way to easily access recently used files, folders, and websites was annoying to some in previous versions of Windows. In Windows 7, the new Jump List feature allows you to those items quickly.

Listen to Over 100,000 Radio Stations in Windows Media Center

Editor — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:10:37 +0000

A cool feature in Windows 7 Media Center is the ability to listen to local FM radio. But what if you don’t have a tuner card that supports a connected radio antenna? The RadioTime plug-in solves the problem by allowing access to thousands of online radio stations.

What to do if you’ve responded to a phishing scam

Editor — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:33:20 +0000

If you suspect that you’ve responded to a phishing scam with personal or financial information or entered this information into a fake Web site, take these steps to minimize any damage.

How to handle Suspicious E-mail

Editor — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:30:10 +0000

Phishing, pronounced “fishing,” is a type of online identity theft that uses e-mail and fraudulent Web sites that are designed to steal your personal data or information such as credit card numbers, passwords, account data, or other information. Follow these guidelines to help protect yourself from phishing scams sent through e-mail.

Reach out with MS Publisher greeting cards

Editor — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:57:54 +0000

When you want to thank loyal customers and reconnect with friends, greeting cards offer a great way to reinforce the personal link between you and them. Using Microsoft Office Publisher 2007, you can quickly produce exactly the greeting card that you want.

Learn how…

Set or remove reminders in MS Outlook

Editor — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:55:57 +0000

Typically, reminders are associated with tasks and deadlines. However, reminders are versatile and can be used with calendar items, e-mail messages, and contacts as well as tasks.

Learn how…

Create and print envelopes for a mass mailing in Word

Editor — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:12:52 +0000

In Microsoft Word, you can use mail merge to create a batch of envelopes when you want to use envelopes to send a mass mailing to your address list. Each envelope can contain an address from your list.

Learn how…

Create a photo album using PowerPoint

Editor — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:04:52 +0000

A PowerPoint photo album is a presentation that you can create to display your personal or business photographs. You can add effects that include attention-grabbing slide transitions , colorful backgrounds and themes (theme: A combination of theme colors, theme fonts, and theme effects. A theme may be applied to a file as a single selection.), specific layouts , and more. After the pictures are in your album, you can add captions, adjust the order and layout, add frames around the pictures, and even apply a theme to further customize the look of your album. To share your photo album with others, you can send it as an attachment to an e-mail message, publish it to the Web, or print it.

Learn how…

Create your own business cards in Publisher

Editor — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:34:43 +0000

Microsoft Office Publisher makes it easy to produce effective business cards, whether you create your own design or use one of the Publisher designs. You can use color schemes and font schemes to select the colors and fonts that reflect your company’s image. You can further customize your business cards for specific market segments or locales, and you can add names and job titles for new employees as your business grows.
Learn how…

Collect data in Access by using e-mail messages

Editor — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:32:12 +0000

Microsoft Office Access 2007 makes it easy to gather data from people who are located anywhere on the globe, such as members of your sales team, survey participants, or contacts. Office Access 2007 works with Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to help you to generate and send an e-mail message that includes a data entry form.

Learn how…

Tech Tip: Command-line switches for Excel

Editor — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:11:23 +0000

You can customize the way that Microsoft Office Excel 2007 starts by adding switches and parameters to the startup command. For example, you can prevent the startup screen from appearing when you start Office Excel 2007, or you can have Excel open a specific file when it starts. Learn how…

Tech tip: write on slides during a presentation

Editor — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:48:50 +0000

When you use Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 to deliver your presentation, you can circle, underline, draw arrows, or make other marks on the slides to emphasize a point or show connections. Learn how…