Start Your Browser In a Blank Page

As a general rule, most of us select a “Home Page” that Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Opera opens to every time we log-in to the Internet. Whether it be Google, Yahoo, MSN or whatever. But, what if you don’t always want to go the same page every time you open your browser? Use the “Blank Page” option available to you all of the three browsers mentioned here. Especially helpful when you’re do “straight research” on a specific topic. This way, you can open your browser to any page your want, depending on your wants, needs, and criteria. In this example, we’ll use Internet Explorer (the other two browsers use the same concept). No matter what browser you prefer to use, the secret is in the Tool or Tools (menu). Here’s the rest of the drill, using Internet Explorer as our example, from within Internet Explorer (or from another browser):

1. Click on Tools (menu).
2. Select Internet Options (from the context menu).
3. Under the heading “Home page section,” click on the “Use Blank” option.

At first, this may seem a little weird, but trust me on this one. The straight reasoning that the three most popular browser not only support this feature (but actually have a place for it in their set-up) is because power users demand this support and functionality feature.

Finally, if you decide the “Use Blank” option is not to your liking just go back in and restore your default web site setting.

Control Panel-View As a Menu Instead Of a Link

Right click Start>Properties (context menu)>Start Menu tab, select Customize Start Menu>Advanced tab.

Under the heading: Start menu items>locate Control Panel, select Display as a menu>OK.

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Change Association

In order to better understand this concept, first let me set the stage by giving you this example: I ordinarily store all of my audio files in Media Player (music, voice-overs, WAV’s and MP3’s.) But, now I need to use a more sophisticated, (precise) software for editing audio tracks, such as Audition or the like. With this understood, here’s what to do:

Right click on any audio file (MP3, Wave, etc.) and then select Properties (context menu)>click the General tab>click the Change button.

In the “Open With” (dialog box) under the heading “Recommended Programs,” select (from the list) the program you want the audio file to now open up into, e.g. Adobe Audition, CoolEdit Pro, Audacity, GarageBand, etc. Click OK twice to close out and return to the Desktop.

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Orphaned

Although an anomaly, occasionally you may run across as “Orphaned” file, which means a file not associated with any particular application (program.) To help find its way back home, drag-and-drop the file onto your various applications (programs) icons until you find the “Parent” application that will open the file.

NOTE: Orphaned files are usually the result of an irregularity in the Save as type: selection when the file was first saved, e.g. saving a Word document which should include the extension .Doc with either an unrelated extension or no extension whatsoever.

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Folders and Directories-Encrypting to Secure Data

Here’s how to encrypt folders and directories:

Right click on a folder you want to encrypt, and select Properties (context menu)>click the General tab>click Advanced Attributes.

Under the heading: Compress or Encrypt attributes, select Encrypt contents to secure data>OK.

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Folders and Directories-Zipping and Unzipping

Here’s how to conserve space on your hard drive:

Right click on a folder you want to compress, and select Properties (context menu)>click the General tab>click Advanced Attributes.

Under the heading: Compress or Encrypt attributes, select Compress contents to save disk space>OK.

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Zipping and Unzipping

Being able to zip and unzip (compress) folders and files is especially useful when emailing, or conserving space on your hard drive. Here’s how:

Right click the folder or file to be compressed, select Send To (context menu)>Compressed (zipped) Folder (sub-menu.)

NOTE: The newly created zipped folder or file will now sport a zipper on its icon to differentiate between itself and the source (original) file. The zipped folder or file will be stored in the same location as the source folder or file.

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Disable Special Effects to Increase Performance

When XP was released there was a big deal about its graphical user interface (GUI.) By default, XP has numerous visual effects, but XP lets you adjust your system for best performance or best appearance. You can also let XP make the adjustments for you. Best choice? You take control. Here’s how:

1. Click Start, and then open the Control Panel. NOTE: If you’re using the “Classic view” setting, you’ll find Control Panel in the sub-menu under Settings on the Start menu list. If you’re using the “Category view” setting, open up the “Performance and Maintenance” icon, and then open the System icon applet.
2. Click the Advanced tab (if not already selected.)
3. In the Performance section, click the Settings button.
4. In the Performance Options (dialog box), click on the Visual Effects tab (if not already selected.)

In the Performance Options window, you have four choices:

• Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer.
• Adjust for best appearance.
• Adjust from best performance.
• Custom:

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CD AutoPlay Feature

When you insert a CD into a CD drive in XP, you get that annoying AutoPlay dialog box that asks what you’d like to do with that CD, giving you several options depending on the CD’s actual content (data, music, etc.) The fact is, that you can take control of how XP deals with different CD’s every time, here’s how:

Click on Start and then open My Computer. Right click on your CD drives icon, and then select Properties (context menu)>click the AutoPlay tab (dialog box)>click the radio button (small circle) to the right of “Select an action to perform:” (Actions section.)

In the Actions section, click on the down arrow, and from there, select a content type. Select the action you want XP to take, and then click Apply.

Repeat the process for any content type (music, data, etc.) you want to automate.

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Adjust Special Effects For Better Performance or Appearance

XP, by default is full of various visual effects, and XP let’s you adjust your system for best performance, or best visual look, or you can turn the job over to XP and let the XP operating system make the adjustments for you. Best choice? You take control! Here’s how:

Click on Start, and then open the Control Panel. NOTE: If you’re using the Classic view in your Control Panel, double click on the System icon. If you’re using the Category view, double click on the Performance and Maintenance icon, and then open the System icon.

Open the Advanced tab (dialog box), and then click on the Settings button (located in the Performance section.)

In the Performance Options window you have four choices. You can either select:

Let Windows make the choice.

Adjust for best appearance.

Adjust for best performance.

Custom: In this category, you can control the settings.

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