Windows 'Search' Prompt in Outlook 2010

If you haven’t already installed Windows Search, you’ll receive a prompt whenever you open Microsoft Outlook 2010. Installing Windows Search will make this prompt go away (and it will let you enable Instant Search in Outlook), but that’s not the only way to disable the prompt. People who don’t want to use Windows Search can follow these directions: click the File table and then click Options. When the Outlook Options window appears, click the Search tab and then clear the Show Prompt To Enable Instant Search box.

Insert a Checkmark in Word

Finding that elusive checkmark in Word can be a hassle.  When the document is open in Word click on the 'Insert' tab then 'Symbols' over on the right, then on 'more symbols'.  You will see this window:

In the 'character code' text box enter--252, then 'Insert' then 'Close'.  

If you want to go the long way then in the Font selection bar scroll down to 'Windings', and then scroll the symbols all the way down to the last selections--there you will see the checkmark.

Use Windows Defender

For those of us still using Windows Vista, this utility is a great tool with lots of options.  Too bad it wasn't carried over into Windows 7.  To open it navigate to 'Start'  then type windows defender in the search bar.  Click on the 'Tools' and in that menu a really great utility is the 'Software Explorer'.  With this open you're able to de-select programs running at startup to speed up your system start up.  Also via the 'category' you can disable programs running in the background.  The right half of the window describes much about each program selected.  If the button on the lower right is greyed out for the feature you want right click the program and select 'startup type' rather than 'Publisher' or 'No Grouping'.  Once disabled the program name stays there so you can go back and change the selection if you want.  All in all a great and very useful utility.  AND it will scan for virus infections!  See the included graphic.

Get Bumped!

For i-OS and Android users here's an app with real promise for sharing info and contact information.
Visit http://bu.mp for more information.  Basically though once the app is installed and running two phone users simply 'bump' their hands (with phones) and the apps recognize each other, then go to the site and exchange whatever info the user wants.  Electronic business cards and networking in a super easy exchange.

Lock your Computer

If you frequently leave your computer for a short period and want to prevent others from accessing it here's a very simple method to lock it down.  Windows logo key + L.  Try it...you'll then just have to re-enter your password to begin working again.  No re-boot, no wake-up, no problem.

TRANSLATE YOUR DOCUMENTS

In today's business world we need to be multilingual with our documents.  In MS Office 2007/Word you can translate text into many different languages.  Highlight the text you want translated or just a small part if you want the entire document translated.  Click on the 'Review' tab, then 'Translate' over on the left.  A sidebar will open with many language options.  If you want the entire document translated click on the green arrow which will  direct you to worldlingo.com where the document is translated and displayed via your browser.  If you only want sections that are highlighted translated then that translation will appear in the sidebar.

Open Programs with Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcuts are pretty fast for opening programs but keyboard shortcuts are even quicker.  Here's how to create keyboard shortcuts for your favorite programs.  Take a icon shortcut living on your desktop and right click it then select properties.  In the 'shortcut' tab click on the 'shortcut keytext bar' and enter a letter.  The text bar will change to Ctrl + Alt + whatever key you entered.  Note this key has to be uppercase.

Try it out!  You can always go back and change it by redoing the above process and just backspacing to remove whatever letter you entered, the text box will return to 'none' for its entry.

Test Your Security

If you are wondering just how secure your network is this site is great for finding out the real truth...be prepared for a shock!
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
Now you can adjust your security settings appropriately.

Email that Calendar

When attempting to coordinate with another person or group of persons the back and forth can be aggravating.  With MS Office 2007 you can simply email your calendar for your co workers to see what is available.
In Outlook 2007 click on the 'Calendar' button in the 'navigation' pane, then choose 'Send a Calendar via email' In the options window you can decide the dates and the amount of detail you want to include.

   

Ready, Get Set, Boost! -- (ReadyBoost)

You can take advantage of today's thumb drives aka USB drives and the space available on them to get a performance boost from your computer.  After inserting the device and clicking on 'Computer', right click on the drive and select 'properties'.  Then click on the 'Ready Boost' tab.  There you'll find all the information you need to enable that feature.  Note:  This is for Windows 7 and Vista.  If you want to try it for XP the setup is different and the opinions on whether or not it works are mixed.

Manually enter web address (URL)

Manually entering an internet address is a multistep process usually but there is a great little keyboard shortcut:  With your favorite browser open (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox or Opera) just type F6 and the address bar is highlighted and ready for text.  Just start typing and the address is entered manually.  Then just click on your 'Enter' key and off you go.

Dropbox

We seldom recommend products but are making an exception with Dropbox.  In the cloud data storage--2GB free and 50GB for $10/month puts it in a very competitive price range with its many competitors but what we like best is its synchronizing features.  Download the little program to all your computers/devices and anything you add from one is automatically synched to all.  And you can access all files from your account at the dropbox site (www.dropbox.com) if you're using a machine that doesn't have the program installed.  Collaboration, file sharing, photo sharing...it's all there and automatically synchs every time there's a change.  Can't beat that!

Stellarium, Enjoying the night sky!

For a wonderful free program that will really help explain the wonderful night sky check this out:
http://www.stellarium.org/
It is a little hungry on the computer memory but if you have 3 GB or more no sweat.
Try it out...you won't be disappointed.

Windows--Recognize multi-core processors

Make sure your dual core or quad core processor is being 'fully recognized' by the windows operating system.  If your system seems too slow for that fancy multi-core processor or if you just want to check here's how:
Click on Start, type 'msconfig.exe' in the search box and hit enter.  Select the 'boot' tab from the 'System Configuration' window, then 'Advanced' options and you should see this menu:

Just make sure the Number of processors drop down menu includes the same number as your computer/processor has and that the check box is checked.  There are other settings to play with if you dare...but that takes care of Windows seeing all the cores in your processor and if it wasn't showing your full potential you will notice a performance improvement.

Fully use your Antivirus Program

Now that you've installed and feel safer with your antivirus program here's another feature to use:
Right click on any file, folder or in "Computer" or "My Computer" any drive or device and you should see an option to 'scan' using your newly installed AV program.  If you don't see it in the drop down menu try clicking on the object once (left click) to highlight it, then one right click.  If you don't see the 'scan' option with your newly installed AV program something is wrong with that program or it's installation.  At this point by choosing 'scan' the program will do just that.  Especially useful in checking out email attachments, newly downloaded files and folders and checking out flash drives.  Use it for additional security!

Zeus virus

Concerned about the zeus virus aka Zbot, PRG, Wsnpoem or Gorhax? There is reason to be.  This is from Wikipedia:  "Zeus (also known as Zbot, PRG, Wsnpoem or Gorhax) is a Trojan horse that steals banking information by keystroke logging and Form Grabbing. Zeus is spread mainly through drive-by downloads and phishing schemes. First identified in July 2007 when it was used to steal information from the United States Department of Transportation, it became more widespread in March 2009. In June 2009, security company Prevx discovered that Zeus had compromised over 74,000 FTP accounts on websites of such companies as the Bank of America, NASA, Monster, ABC, Oracle, Cisco, Amazon, and BusinessWeek."
If you're concerned about having it on your computer and your antivirus not finding it check for any or all of these files:  

The ZEUS trojan will commonly use names like NTOS.EXE, LD08.EXE, LD12.EXE, PP06.EXE, PP08.EXE, Dnn.EXE and PPnn.EXE etc, so search your PCs for files with names like this. The ZEUS Trojan will typically be between 40KBytes and 150Kbytes in size.  Also look for a folder with the name WSNPOEM, this is also a common sign of infection for the ZEUS Trojan.  Finally, check the Registry lloking for RUN keys referencing any of these names.
Lastly and most importantly keep your operating system and antivirus program UP TO DATE!

Our Solar System

Ever get confused about our planets, their order within our solar system?  Or just want a cool visual of outerspace to share?  Follow this link for a very nice representation of our solar neighborhood!
http://dd.dynamicdiagrams.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/orrery_2006.swf

Outlook 2007 unable to open embedded links to webpages

If this occurs the most likely culprit is your browser association with Outlook isn't working properly.  Here's a very easy and safe method of fixing the problem:  Download and install a browser you're currently not using such as Chrome, Opera, or Firefox.  Install the program and when it asks to be your default browser say 'yes'.
Then open IE or whatever browser you want to be your default browser and it will ask if it can be your default browser--tell it 'yes'.  Now when you click on the links that are embedded in your emails it should open the default browser.