Getting  Along With Your Computer Column Archive

Why Search When You Already Know The Answer?

By Cate Eales
Appeared June 25, 2009 on castanet.net

Why search when you already know the answer? When you don't know the answer, do you like Google or Bing? Do you know how to get rid of those automatic email address suggestions? I've got the answer to that one for you!


Location, location, location
When you want to talk to someone and you already know the phone number, what do you do?

Do you pick up the phone, dial 411, and ask to be connected?

Probably not!

Every website has a direct way to connect to it, too. If you know the website address, it's like knowing your friend's phone number. You can simply enter that information into the location bar of your web browser and be taken directly to the site. You don't have to use a search engine like Google or Yahoo! or Bing, because you already know where to find the website.

In both Firefox and Internet Explorer, the Location bar (sometimes called Address Bar) is near the top of the browser window.

Simply enter the information in your browser's Location Bar and press the enter key. You will go straight to the page.

If you find you often visit the same place, you can add it to your Favorites in Internet Explorer, or your Bookmarks in Firefox. Next time you want to go to that page, you don't have to search, you don't even have to type. You just need to click on Favorites or Bookmarks, and then click on the one for the site you want to visit. It's a little like programing your friend's phone number into your speed dial!


Google vs Bing
When you don't know the answer, you still need a search engine. Microsoft recently revamped their Live Search and named it Bing. I am still comparing the Bing and Google results, and now there's an easy way to to that.

(click to enlarge graphic)

Type http://www.bing-vs-google.com into your browser's Location Bar, and enter your search term into the search bar. You'll see the Bing and Google results side by side.


Removing a wrong email address
When you compose a new email, you'll notice that Outlook, Outlook Express, and Windows Mail try to guess which address you mean, and offer you a choice. That's called the Auto complete feature, and that list --- believe it or not --- has nothing to do with your email address book. That list is produced by your email program remembering what you recently typed in.

So if you made a mistake at one point, or if someone's email address changed, even though you have the correct entry in your address book, that dang Auto complete is going to keep offering you the wrong address!

You can usually fix this by using your up and down arrow keys to highlight the wrong address, and then pressing the Delete key. That works 99% of the time. But some Vista users report that it just does not work in Windows Mail. Good news! For you folks, there's a utility that will clear that Auto complete list. Close Windows Mail.  Browse here and download the zip file. Unzip and run it. Delete the bad addresses from the list, and you should be good to go.

If nothing else works, you can turn off the Auto complete feature in your email. In Outlook Express and Windows Mail:

In Outlook:

Do you need help with your computer?  With your scanner/printer/camera/music player?  Do you have a virus or a spyware problem?  Do you need more RAM?  Do you need a backup plan? Do you have a new computer and now you're wondering how to get the files from the old one over to the new one? I'm here to help you and your home or business computer get along! To ask a question, make a comment or suggestion, or schedule a visit, email help@computercarekelowna.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 RSS Feed, click here.

Links
Microsoft Releases Bing http://rlis.com/columns/column199.htm
Bing vs Google http://www.bing-vs-google.com
Clear Recently Used Email Addresses from Windows Mail http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/264/1/Utility-to-clear-recently-used-email-addresses-in-Windows-Mail.html
Computer Care Kelowna http://computercarekelowna.com/
Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archives http://rlis.com/column.htm
Get Cate's column by email http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?Sub=20618
RSS Feed: http://rlis.com/rlis.xml

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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 Computer Care Kelowna, 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 help@computercarekelowna.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 2009 – All Rights Reserved
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