Getting  Along With Your Computer Column Archive

Unsung Heroes

By Cate Eales
Appeared March 8, 2007 on castanet.net

Do you ever feel that you don't get all the credit you deserve just for showing up every day and quietly doing you job? There are several components of Windows that are like that, too. They just get on with it, and we take them for granted. Or maybe we don't even know they exist!

Here are a couple of Windows Unsung Heroes.

Clipboard
Clipboard has been around Windows forever. You probably use it every day, because Clipboard is what allows us to copy (or cut) text and images from one place and paste them someplace else. Where would we be without it?

There are several ways to use Clipboard. One way is the Edit menu.

Another way to do this is using the keyboard shortcuts. To copy, use CTRL+C (That is, hold down the CTRL key and the C key at the same time.) To cut, use CTRL+X. Use CTRL+V to paste your item where you want it. What if you goof or change your mind? CTRL+Z is an "Undo" command.

You have another option, called the Context Menu.

Clipboard is a useful tool, but it has an important limitation: It will only remember the last thing you copied or cut. If you want a utility that will remember more than one thing, there are several good, free ones. Searching Google for "free clipboard replacement" gets you 1,070,000 results. But the one I really like, and use all the time called Yankee Clipper, available here.


Zip/Unzip
Another overlooked utility in Windows XP is the ability to "unzip" and "zip" files. Since later versions of Windows 98, this is a built-in feature of Windows. It's especially easy to use in Windows XP.

A "zip" file is a file or folder that has been compressed to save space. Why would you need to know that? Well, if you have a lot of photos you want to send, you might "zip" them so that it's easier/faster to email them. If you download programs, they are probably compressed ("zipped") to save space and time, so you have to "unzip" them.

To extract the contents from a zip file ("unzip" it)

To create a zip file ("zip" it)

There are other programs that will do this, and many of them have move features. The most popular one is called WinZip, available here. WinZip is not a free program, at least it's not supposed to be! If you are tired of WinZip nag screens popping up because your grandson installed WinZip last time he visited, you can just uninstall the program and let Windows XP handle the zip files. If you find that you need more than XP has to offer, I suggest IZArc, free and available here. 7-Zip is another popular alternative, available here.



Remember to Spring Forward
Thank you again for all your comments, suggestions, and questions. I am almost, but not quite, caught up on my email. If you haven't heard from me yet, you will very soon. Please keep the email coming to cate@rlis.com. You can check out the column archives at any time here.  And don't forget the recommendations for good, free software.  You can subscribe to the column by email, or add the RSS feed to your feed reader.

If you don't want to miss that Brier final on Sunday, remember to set your clocks ahead one hour (unless you are rooting for Simmons, I guess) and be sure to get the patches you need so your computer knows what time it is. Windows Vista doesn't need the patch. XP users should head over here. Microsoft no longer supports Windows 98, but users can check for a non-Microsoft fix here.  Lots more information in last week's column.

You don't have to patch your computer if you don't want to; you can manually adjust the time. Keep in mind, though, that you will have to do that once in March, again in April, again in October and again in November to compensate for the non-patched rules. You will need to do that every year. It might just be simpler to apply the patches, especially if you sync a handheld device or smartphone with your PC. And while you're at it, please change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors!


Links
Free clipboard replacement Google search results http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-10,GGGL:en&q=free+clipboard+replacement
Yankee Clipper http://www.intelexual.com/products/YC3/
WinZip http://www.winzip.com/
IZArc http://www.izarc.org/
Windows XP DST support http://support.microsoft.com/gp/dst_hu1
Non-MS patch for older systems http://www.intelliadmin.com/downloads.htm
Daylight Savings http://rlis.com/columns/column84.htm
Change the batteries http://www.theweathernetwork.com/inter/help/glossary/pages/daylightsavingtime.htm
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
RSS Feed: http://rlis.com/rlis.xml
Cate's list of good, free software http://rlis.com/columns/column75list.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.