Miscellaneous Tricks

Hints on setting up Wireless routers:
A good network security type is: WPA/WPA2
It allows you to set up any password you want as long as it is at least 8 characters long.
To access the setup stuff in our router, try 192.169.0.1 in your router

How to go back to the last known good computer configuration Windows XP (Used when the computer seems all messed up ant you find your self saying I wish it would run like it did on ____)
During start up push, the F8 key about every second until a menu comes up. Select “Open with last known good configuration” You may have to select something like “Advanced Options”. Then scroll down (with the down arrow) to a date that looks safe to you.

Checking Installed RAM. (Memory)
Watch during boot up or CONTROL PANEL SYSTEM GENERAL Then look at the bottom of the window, it will list the amount of RAM it sees.

Some things that can be done it the computer is too slow:
Is it just a problem with games that have a lot moving around on the screen or everything. If it is just graphics intensive programs, you need to get a better graphics card. This is a tricky thing. Points to consider are
1) What kind of graphics card does your computer take, typically AGP in machines 5 to 10 years ago. PCI Express 1.0 X16 or some variation on that for later machines.
2) What size power supply does your computer have? If it is an inexpensive computer, it probably has a 300 Watt power supply which puts a serious crimp in now powerful a graphics card you get. You can find the size of the power supply by checking the documentation that came with the computer if you are very lucky, by going to the manufacture's web site if you are lucky or by opening up the computer and looking at it. It is the big box in the back top with all the wires coming out. The power rating is normally printed on it.

3) Is the enough space next to the slot for the graphics card to put in a card that is the width of 2 cards as many of the graphics cards are double wide. The slot for the graphics card is typically the furthest from the bottom of the case and a big graphics card will take that space plus the next one down. If the next slot is in use, you may be able to move that card to another slot. You may also be able to pull out a card you are not using such as one for a modem.
Take all this info in with you when you buy the graphics card.

If the problem is not with the video
The first thing to consider is adding more memory. If you have 2 megs or less (especially 1 Meg or less) and are running Vista or Windows 7, consider adding more. If you have less than 512 K running XP consider adding more.
Unfortunately the subject of what memory to add is even more confusing than the problems with video cards discussed above. You will need to know:

1) What kind and size of memory your computer takes. You can find this out from the material that came with the computer, the computer manufacturer's web site or some web sites that sell memory can look it up. I assume computer stores can look it up too.
2) What size memory cards do you have now and are there any empty slots.

You may have to discard some of the memory you already have to make room or because there may be a requirement to have them all matching.

You or a friend may have a lot of memory chips from old computers hanging around. Chances are they are too small and incompatible. If they are from a computer of a similar vintage, you have a chance.

If all else fails, reformatting the hard disk and reinstalling everything often helps. However this cure is often considered worse than the disease.

Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts
There are a lot but only a few are worth memorizing. They work in most windows programs.

CTRL C Copies the selected (highlighted) text to the clipboard (past bucket)

CTRL V Pasts the the contents of the clipboard in at the location of the curser

CTRL X Cuts out the selected text an puts in in the clipboard

CTRL Z Undoes the last step. It does not work in all programs but it works in most. Some applications like Microsoft Office let you do multiple undo's This command can save a lot of heartache.

Right clicking on the mouse brings up a list of options related to what is going on. For example in Word, if you right click on a word that is marked as misspelled, it will bring up a list of suggested spellings. If you are browsing the web and find a nice picture, it offers the option of copying the picture to the clipboard or saving it as your background image. If you right click on a file name, one of the options is to rename it. Play around with the right mouse button, it is amazing all the options it can bring up.

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Rev 11/22/11 fixed