Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archive

Keep The Emails Coming!

By Cate Eales
Appeared April 13, 2006 on castanet.net

This week's column is all about the email I've received over the past few weeks. Keep it coming! Please! I often learn something new when I get a new question, so I thought I'd share what I've learned.

Monitor Yodel
Chuck wrote, "Hi: When I click on a window to move it on my screen, it moves in waves - like a visual yodel. Scrolling also has a herky-jerky motion. I have the mouse set to scroll three lines at a time and adjusting that hasn't brought any improvements. Any suggestions?"

Well, I had some suggestions, but as luck would have it none of them helped. In the end Chuck wrote me that he'd solved the problem himself. Here's how: " I went to "system" "advanced" and hit "adjust for performance." This cleared every box that had been checked and solved the problem. If I checked "adjust for appearance" every box became checked but then the yodel came back. I haven't noticed any problem with appearance with the "performance" option."

Excellent detective work and trouble-shooting technique, Chuck!


Registry Backup
Cheryl sent this email: "…When I bought my Dell computer, Windows XP Home Edition was already loaded on it and I received no CD. How can I backup my registry without a CD? help!!"

I use a registry backup program called ERUNT ("EE-ARE-YOU-EN-TEE"), which is available here: http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

Unless you speak German, be sure to download the English version! There are detailed instructions on installation and use of the program on that page, and also in a file in the install program. The program is completely free for personal use, although there is a place on the page to make a donation if you wish to do so.

Isn't it annoying that we are no longer entitled to a copy of the Operating System we pay for? All I got with my Toshiba laptop was a restore disk. That will restore the system to the way it was when I got it, but since I spent the first two days I had it clearing out a bunch of spyware and unwanted junk, that would be of minimal help. I am presently researching backup strategies and programs. I'm always interested in learning what other people do. If you have a backup program you like, I'd love to hear about it.


Save Photos from Websites
Doreen asked, "How do I save a photo from a website onto my computer?"

Finally! One I can answer without having to look anything up! You can do it a couple of ways. One way:

1. Right-click on the photo
2. Select "Save image as…" (Firefox) or "Save picture as…" (Internet Explorer)
3. In the Save Image box, navigate to where you want to save the picture
4. Rename the picture something informative, if necessary
5. Click OK

An even easier way to do this is to resize your browser window so that part of your desktop is also visible, and then click-and-drag the photo to your Desktop! You can rename it there so you know later what you saved.

Some websites (a very few) have disabled this function. If you want a copy of pictures from a website that doesn't want you to have them, you'll have to dig the photo out of your temporary files. (It has to be on your computer somewhere or it wouldn't display!) To do this:

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Click on Tools | Internet Options. A new window titled "Internet Properties" appears.
3. In the Temporary Internet Files section of the Internet Properties window, click on Settings | View Files
4. In the new window that opens, you'll see a list of all the temporary internet files. Locate the one(s) you want, and click-and-drag to the Desktop
5. When you're through, close all the windows you don't need and OK your way out

Some people find it helpful to clear the cache and then revisit the webpage before going through all that. It makes things easier because there aren't so many files to look through.

However you save website pictures, keep in mind that some of them are copyrighted. You won't have the right to redistribute them or use them on your own website without permission.


Spring Cleaning
Eric asked if I had any tips on a "Spring Cleaning" routine that would improve performance. Yes! I do! And as soon as I get the rest of the pine needles off the roof, bagged up, and out to the curb for pickup, I'll write that column. Probably next week. At least I hope so. See you then!


Links:
ERUNT Registry backup program: http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
"Getting Along With Your Computer" Column Archives http://rlis.com/column.htm
Get Cate's column by email: http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=20618

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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.