Tips and Tricks - General
Helpful Hints from the team at Desktop Resources
Table of Contents
- Basic Computer Troubleshooting Tips
- Caring for your Computer
- Defining Computer Hardware Terms
- E-Mail Etiquette
- Ergonomics
- Filename Caveats
- Five Reasons to Regularly Back Up Your Data
- Getting the most from CDs and DVDs
- How to clean your LCD Screen
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Prevent Office Injuries
- Recycle or Donate your Old Computer
- Save Your Work Often
- Shrink Your Digital Pictures
Five Reasons to Regularly Back Up Your Data
Almost every business depends at least to some extent on data stored on the hard drives of PCs or laptops, even companies with servers that are regularly backed up. Many computer users feel invincible to data loss, as though it is something that happens to other companies and individuals. Unfortunately, data loss happens much more than realized and is not just something that happens to “the other guy”. Hundreds of things can happen to data to corrupt and/or lose it forever such as hardware failures and accidental deletions. Below are five reasons to regularly backup your data...
Shrink Your Digital Pictures
Typically, the high‐resolution setting for most digital cameras creates images using uncompressed TIFF or very little compressed JPG formats. The highest resolution is usually set as the default resolution as there is a large demand for better quality images. Unfortunately, higher resolution means larger file sizes, making these images difficult to share via the web or e‐mail. You do have a few options to share these files at a more reasonable size, though. Any one of the below will help. Just choose the best option for the task at hand depending on your situation... Details on making your Digital Pictures smaller...
Basic Computer Troubleshooting Tips
So you're having some problems, but before you call 'Tech Support' there's a few things you can do to see if perhaps this is an issue you can handle yourself... Some things to try before you call tech support...
Recycle or Donate your Old Computer
Getting a new computer? What should you do with the old one? How about donating it to a local charity? It may be good for them, and may help you on your taxes. But before you get too far, there are a few things you should know about donating old computers... Things to do BEFORE you donate your old computer to charity...
Caring for your Computer
Most computer users receive some sort of training on their use, either formally or informally. However, most users are never given appropriate training on an essential task that can increase the life of a computer and help prevent damage: caring for a computer. Computers, like any other piece of electronic equipment, need special care and attention in order to perform properly and safely. There are several specialized tasks such as defragmenting, scanning and reformatting that computer experts can do to keep the internal system of a computer working well. However, we'll leave these tasks to the experts for now and concentrate on some daily do's and don'ts that any computer user should know...
Defining Computer Hardware Terms
Ever wonder what all the different terms mean when someone refers to the physical parts inside of your computer? Most computer users don’t understand the differences between individual parts inside the computer case because they rarely have a need to know them and never see them. While most computer technicians will usually be able to decipher descriptions of what’s broken when a request for help is made, they typically have a harder time explaining to non‐techies what it is they’ve found or repaired due to the techie language barrier. There is an enormous amount of different hardware (the physical pieces of your computer) that makes up the internal anatomy your computer, but here is a brief description of four that are typically misunderstood. In order to make each a bit easier to understand, I’ve related each of them to something not computer related... A jargon-free guide to computer hardware terms...
E-Mail Etiquette
How many e‐mail messages do you send each day? 10? 50? 100? E‐mail has taken over as a preferred means of both business and personal communications. With e‐mail now such a dominant means of communication, it’s important to maintain proper e‐mail etiquette as what is written will most certainly reflect on yourself and/or your company. Here's 10 tips on e-mail etiquette...
Ergonomics
Although many institutions insist the first step in any job is planning, there is one step that should be taken seriously even prior to that ‐ get comfortable. Ergonomics is a way of figuring out a more comfortable way to do your job, whether you're a desk jockey, a grocery store clerk, a truck driver, or a mechanic. Although many scoff at the importance of comfort, without it your job can be cumbersome, tiring, and even unhealthy. Every day employees worldwide complain of aches and pains that prevent them from being efficient and/or comfortable in the workplace because of poor, or complete lack of, regard to ergonomics. Below are some important notes concerning ergonomics that, if applied daily, can help to make your computing experience more comfortable and reduce the risk of long term effects of your health...
Filename Caveats
Naming a file is a seemingly mundane task while creating or managing existing files on your computer. Many errors and file corruptions that occur when reopening files, however, could be very easily avoided if proper file‐naming conventions are observed. A standard filename should avoid the following characters:...
Getting the most from CDs and DVDs
Storing valuable information on CDs and DVDs? Wonder how you can make them last longer? How 'media speed' comes into play with cheaper CDs and DVDs? Wondering if you need a '~R' format versus '~RW'?... Here's some tips to demystify CD and DVD terminology...
How to clean your LCD Screen
Many of the major computer companies are shipping flat panel Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens to customers who purchase new computer systems and falling prices have made both LCD monitors and laptops with LCD displays more affordable. As a result, more and more LCD screens are appearing in the home and office today. With the arrival of the new LCD displays, one question is becoming increasingly popular: How do I properly clean my LCD display?...
Keyboard Shortcuts
Do you use any keyboard shortcuts while working? Shortcuts such as the ones below can help save time while performing basic tasks and are typically available in most programs and Windows Explorer. Although there are many shortcuts available, here are some of the most common keyboard shortcuts...
Prevent Office Injuries
Those of us that tend to work long, uninterrupted hours in the office and in front of a computer are all at a high risk of developing common office injuries. The most common among these injuries include neck strain, eye strain, and carpal tunnel syndrome, but there are many others as well. Improving ergonomics (see our other tip on Ergonomics) and taking frequent breaks can go a long way towards reducing the risk of these injuries. However, there are also some simple exercises that you may perform throughout the day that when used in conjunction with ergonomics and breaks will even further reduce the risk of injury. These exercises have the added benefit of keeping you flexible, relaxed, and less stressed...
Save Your Work Often
Here is a simple trick. Save your work often. Too simple a tip, you say? Why am I mentioning it here, you might say? Because most people STILL DO NOT save their files until they are done working with them. Imagine a well‐known author working on a manuscript for a sure‐to‐be best seller novel... Remember to save your work often...