Gadgets, Surges,
Shutdowns
By Cate Eales
Appeared September 25, 2008 on castanet.net
This week, a tip on Vista Gadgets, protect your computer
from surges, and how to shut down a misbehaving laptop.
Use Vista Sidebar Gadgets Without The Sidebar
Windows Vista includes the Sidebar, where various gadgets give us access
to tools, games, calendars, and the weather, to name just a few. The
sidebar is generally anchored to the right side of the screen. You can
easily add more gadgets, but did you know that you can have those gadgets
anywhere on your desktop, and not just in the Sidebar?
Just drag your gadgets off the Sidebar and onto the
desktop, then right-click on the Sidebar and close it. You have gadgets,
and you don't have the Sidebar consuming all that screen real estate.
Learn more about the Sidebar and gadgets
here, and grab some more gadgets from the gallery,
here.
Protect your computer
I've written often about protecting your computer with anti-virus and
anti-malware programs, with a firewall, and with strong passwords. But
recently, as I've helped people set up their new computers, I realized
that many people overlook one obvious form of protection, and that's a
good surge protector.
Consult an electrician, or better still an electrical engineer, if you
want a more technical discussion involving joules and so on, but on a
non-technical level, a good surge protector should have the "UL Listed"
label on it; it should offer a "connected equipment warranty;" and it
should have an indicator light on it so you can tell when it has quit
working. Expect to pay at least $25 for a good one, and you can pay a lot
more if you want to!
Make sure you plug your cable or DSL modem and your router into a surge
protector, not just your computer. They also contain sensitive
electronics, and are a hassle to replace. If you have a modem or any kind
of phone line connection to the computer, get a surge protector with a
phone pass through, because phone lines are powered from the telco central
office, and you can get a surge that way, even with today's digital CO's.
Inspect your surge protectors from time to time, and expect to replace
them every couple of years, or more often if --- like us here in the
Mission --- you have many power hits.
Shut down a "stuck" laptop computer
I've mentioned this before, but here's a reminder. If you have a laptop
that won't shut down (even with the
"three-fingered salute") there is a way out.
Leaving aside, for the moment, the cause of the freeze, IF NOTHING ELSE
WORKS, there is a three-step process to follow that will shut down the
computer and let you start over.
- Remain calm.
- Press down on the notebook's ON/OFF switch.
- HOLD IT DOWN for at least 10 or 12 seconds until the
computer shuts down and then release it.
That's all there is to it.
Computers, and especially laptops, are designed so that accidentally
pressing the ON/OFF switch doesn't shut them down. That would be annoying!
So when all else fails and you absolutely must shut down manually, you
have to make the computer believe that's what you want to do. That's why
you have to hold the switch down longer than you would think necessary.
Again, exhaust all the normal, polite methods of shutting down before
resorting to this one. You risk damaging files this way. But if nothing
else works, this will. You should absolutely never have to resort to
removing the battery to shut down the computer.
Do you need help with your computer? Do you have something interesting to
ask or tell? I'm here to help you and your computer get along! To ask a
question, make a comment or suggestion, or schedule a visit, email
cate@rlis.com. You can read previous columns
here. If you'd like to
subscribe to this column by email,
please visit this link. It's easy, and free. If you'd prefer the
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Links
Windows Sidebar and Gadgets
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/features/sidebar-gadgets.aspx
Windows Gadget Gallery
http://vista.gallery.microsoft.com/vista/SideBar.aspx?mkt=en-us
Three-fingered salutel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control-Alt-Delete
Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archives
http://rlis.com/column.htm
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---
Cate Eales has been helping people make online computing safe, accessible
and fun for over 20 years. She lives in Kelowna with her husband, Eric,
and her dog, Sandy. Cate is a partner in Real Life Internet Solutions,
helping individuals and small businesses with virus, spyware and malware
eradication; personal computer training and management; digital image
management; music transfer; and website design, hosting and management.
Email Cate at cate@rlis.com with your
comments, suggestions, or questions. To browse the column archives, visit
the Real Life Internet Solutions website at
www.rlis.com.
©
Cate Eales 2008 – All Rights Reserved
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