Windows sometimes forgets things

I have a network of four and sometimes five computers here in my home. (is he nuts) Each one is set up to do a particular job for me. For example one is for HTML code (creating Web Pages) another is for the Web Cam, another one is for Ham Radio control and decoding, The wireless Laptop is for email and control of all the other computers on the network, and just for fun tasks. My wife has her own computer that is tied in to the network also, but I try not to access it ever.
The Windows or Microsoft network that I use to link this mess together sometimes forgets just what computers its suppose to keep track of, So you have to help it out by telling it to look for a certain computer. A keyboard shortcut is: Windows + Ctrl + F: Display find: computer. I type in the name of the computer (radio) and it will find it and then you can access it. Why the network forgets some of the computers, I have no clue. If you know please tell me.
There are some other Keyboard shortcuts that are pretty neat too, here are a few that you may not know:
Here's a list of things you can do with the Windows key:

• Windows: Display Start menu.
• Windows + D: Minimize or restore all Windows.
• Windows + E: Display Windows Explorer.
• Windows + Tab: Cycle through buttons on taskbar.
• Windows + F: Display find: all files.
• Windows + Ctrl + F: Display find: computer.
• Windows + F1: Display Help.
• Windows + R: Display Run command.
• Windows + break: Display system properties dialog box.
• Windows + shift + M: Undo minimize all windows.
Step One: The Cut, Copy, and Paste Collection

Copy, cut, and paste text or pictures with these keyboard shortcuts.
Most people who use Windows are familiar with the terms cut, copy, and paste. Do you know what they do? Today Chris explains each term and shows you how to use their corresponding keyboard shortcuts. The cut, copy, and paste collection allows you to cut out, replace, or rearrange any highlighted text or data. If you are writing a family newsletter and want to move the upcoming birthday list from the bottom to the top, highlight the paragraph, cut, and then paste it at the top of your document.
Simply click Edit in any Windows application and choose the appropriate command, but it's easier to use one of these shortcuts:
• Control + X: This command cuts out any highlighted text or data.
• Control + C: This command copies any highlighted text or data.
• Control + V: This command pastes any copied text or data from the clipboard to any open application. Position your cursor where you want the text to appear.
You can cut and paste any text or data from one Windows application to another. The copied information is held on the clipboard until you press paste. After a little practice you'll be able to cut, copy, and paste with one hand while your other hand remains on the mouse.

The above was taken from The Call for Help Newsletter.

Have you seen WB9OTX.com yet ?

More Back-up Stuff

Here is another way to keep your addresses and a quick personal look up phone book as well. You will have to have an account with Yahoo to use this feature, but it is a quick and simple thing to do. I do not have the direct URL for you to go to as I have a cookie that recognizes my computer and tells Yahoo who I am. I think if you just go to:
http://yahoo.com then look for address book, you can create an account from there or you can try this one: http://address.yahoo.com At any rate you can import your addresses from your address book to the Yahoo address book. It will be there so you can retrieve the information if you loose them from your computer. You can also put street addresses, phone & fax numbers, as well as other needed information for quick look-ups.
Just read the directions from the page and I’m sure you can figure out how to up-load your book of addresses. This is just one more way to BACK UP YOUR STUFF.

Have you seen http://frenchsurvey.com yet ?

OE Back Up

I have said many times in the past, ‘It’s not if, it’s when’. My Wife’s five year old computer bit the dust. The power supply went dead and in geek talk it was an AT. Now all power supplies are called ATX. I decided not to fix it, I would replace it with a newer model that I had on hand. This sounds easy, just take one out and set in a new one, wrong, all her files were on the old computer’s second hard drive. Not to big of a deal to install this second drive in the new machine, I had it done in about forty-five minutes or so. I set up her mail program, loaded Microsoft Word, and set her start page in Internet Explorer. All done, (not) I came out of her room and with a big smile I said, ‘all done you can use it now’. She said that didn’t take long did it, and I said, ‘I do good work and fast too’. (this is a UPS term) A few minutes later I heard a big yell, Where did all my addresses in my address book go ? My heart sunk down to my toes. I knew her old computer ran Windows 98SE and the new one ran XP and I didn’t think the address books were interchangeable. (WAB file) Oh boy I remembered I had installed a email back-up program called Express Assist on her machine, So I loaded the program on the C drive and found the back-up on the D drive. I pushed a few buttons and whammo, all the email and addresses were back. What a life saver.

This little gem of a program could be a life saver for you also, but it is not cheap, I think the cost is about 35 or 40 bucks, but it is worth it. Here is some text copied from their Web page:

The ‘Express Assist’ utility is a backup, restore and synchronization tool for Outlook Express. It allows you to backup and restore your messages, address book, settings, mail and news accounts, message rules, blocked senders lists, signatures, stationeries, and critical Internet Explorer favorites and settings.
Get it here:
http://www.ajsystems.com/ea7.html

You can back-up and restore emails and address books manually, but it is complicated to say the least, so for the most of you reading this, I would recommend you buy a program to do it for you. At any rate, Please make a back up of your address book. Do this by opening your address book, click on file, > Export, > Address Book (WAB) Tell it where to save it, then remember where you put it. Put it on a CD or floppy and on your hard drive. If you loose your address book you can import it back in. It’s a good idea also to print it out so at least you could type it back in manually. Remember, BACK-UP BACK-UP and then BACK-UP.