Windows
Shut down programs that are frozen (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10)
- Right click on your taskbar on an empty space and click on Task Manager or Start Task Manager in Windows 7 and prior Windows, or Hold down with your left hand Ctrl and Alt keys and with your right, hit the delete key once and select task manager. Click the Process tab or the Applications tab in Windows 7 and prior Windows and click once the program you want to close or that's not responding and click end task. It may take a few seconds or you'll get a second window telling you it's not responding, click end task again or shut down.
Pin or unpin programs to taskbar (Windows 7 and 8.1, 10)
- This option will enable you to add or remove a program shortcut on the taskbar.
If the shortcut is on the desktop, simply drag it to the taskbar, you can also drag it from "All Programs" in Windows 7.
In Windows 8.1, go to apps and right click on the app you would like to pin, then at the bottom or menu click "Pin to Taskbar".
In Windows 10 click start then right click on the app you want to pin, move to "More" then click "Pin to taskbar". Another way is to open the program you would like leave on the taskbar. When the icon appears on the taskbar, right click and select "Pin to taskbar". After you close the program the icon will remain on the taskbar and you just click to open it.
The Taskbar icons can be moved left or right by dragging them.
To remove, just right click and unpin.
Move your taskbar
- Did you know that you can move the taskbar to the top, right, or left sides of your screen?
Simply unlock your taskbar by right clicking on your taskbar on an empty space then click on Lock the taskbar (when unlocked the check mark will be removed). Once it's unlocked you can drag it to the top, right, or left sides of your screen, remember to lock it again by repeating the first step.
Add a Desktop toolbar to the taskbar
- This option will enable you to access everything on your Desktop without minimizing or closing windows.
Right click on your taskbar on an empty space. Point to toolbar's and select Desktop.
Internet Tip's
Typing in a website address
- Most browsers will accept a simple address like eslpc.com instead of http://www.eslpc.com. Also if you type in just eslpc plus Ctrl+Enter on the keyboard, it should work but only with .com addresses.
Change Your Home Page (Edge)
- Click on the Main menu on the top right corner (it has three horizontal dots), and then click on “Settings”. Under "Open Microsoft Edge with" select "A specific page or pages" then type or paste the web address you want as the start page, then click the save (Floppy Icon) on the right.
Change Your Home Page (Internet Explorer)
- Open the control panel and click on internet options. In the general tab type the home page you would like. You can add more by typing each address on it's own line (IE7 and above), then click ok.
Change Your Home Page (Firefox)
- Open your Firefox browser and click on tools then options or if you have the Firefox logo at the top-left corner, then click on the arrow pointing down, move to options then click on options. Version 29 and above click on menu (top right) then options. In the general tab type the home page you would like next to the Home page.
Change Your Home Page (Chrome)
- Click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar, top right then select settings.
Homepage button is off by default. Select the "Show Home button" checkbox in the "Appearance" section to show it on the browser toolbar.
When the "Show Home button" checkbox is selected, a web address appears below it. If you want the Homepage button to open up a different web page, click Change to enter a link.
Favorite Bar or Bookmark Toolbar
- Quick access to sites you use most often.
First, make sure you can view the toolbar. Next to the last tab on the right, right click and make sure there is a check mark next to bookmarks toolbar (Firefox) or Favorite Bar (Internet Explorer). On Chrome, click menu, Bookmarks, and then Show Bookmarks Bar. To add the shortcut, first go to the website you want to save, on Firefox simply drag the tab of the website to the Bookmark toolbar location. On Chrome and Internet Explorer, drag the icon that is to the left of the address bar to the Favorite toolbar location.
Search Engines
- Get better search results!
If you use Google, Yahoo, etc., using quotes will help narrow down the results. An example would be if you search for 'back pain', the results would be pages that contain the words back and pain but not necessarily together, but if it's in quotes "back pain", then the results would be pages with both words together and so narrowing the results.
Advice
Security
- One of the most important things you can do for your computer is to have good security. Unfortunately if you want to use the internet or email, you have to safe
guard against intruders. Every year we check out reviews and test for ourselves the security software that is best overall in protecting your computer
but also light on your CPU and hard drive usage. The one we recommend is Norton Security Deluxe.
Comcast offers their home and business class internet customers Norton™ Security suite for free for up to 7 computers for residential and up to 3 for business, it's basically the same except it give you a backup and utility apps.
Updates
- Updates are important to apply. Windows Vista or 7 look like this,
in Windows 8.1,
on the login screen you will see a hint in the bottom right corner, and in Windows 10 the updates are automatic. Windows Updates will include security, upgrades, enhancements, and so on.
Also anything from Adobe is ok to do.
For more on updates, check out our March 2012 newsletter. To access click on our menu then Support then eNewsletters then 2012 Archives.
Before you install software
- Before installing any software, make sure it's compatible with your OS. Any time you install software you run the risk of upsetting your computer,
so only install what you need.
Don't take a risk by installing things like screen savers, freeware, registry cleaners, speed boosters, etc., that may slow down the computer or cause problems with other running apps, and never have two or more security software running at the same time.
Upgrading
- When new software or upgrade becomes available, (not including patches, updates) let a few month go by so they can work out the bugs, that way you won't be the one calling them for HELP!
Internet Explorer (IE), Windows XP, and Vista
- Microsoft has stop support for Both Windows Vista and Windows XP, with that also the upgrade of the Internet Explorer (IE). If you have Vista, IE9 is the highest version that can be installed, in XP, IE8
is the highest version that can be installed.
You might be thinking, why do I have to upgrade in the first place? Simple answer is, because of the website you visit every day. Newer website codes are being used and the IE7 or IE8 (although IE8 is much better) can't handle these codes very well and security is also an issue. Your best solution is to install a different browser like Firefox or Chrome which can handle these new codes. The results will be a faster and smoother internet experience.
You can download these browsers using our download page.
Update: Google Has Stopped Support for Chrome On Windows XP, Vista And Older Versions Of OS X As Of April 2016.
