Predominet Communications Inc. Techie Tips Page

Techie Tips

On this page, we will present some Tips and Tricks, primarily for Windows.

Tip #1 - Have you ever installed an application, decided you didn't like it, so you un-installed it, only to find out that you can no longer access certain files on your computer anymore because Windows keeps looking for the program you just un-installed? A classic example would be the un-installation of an image viewing program. Well, here's the fix!

Double Click on My Computer
At the top of the Window, Click on View|Folder Options
Click on the File Types tab
In the box titled "Registered File Types", scroll down until you see the file type that is no longer accessible. (eg. - GIF Image), and Double Click on that File Type.
In the box titled "Actions", Double Click on the "Open" action.
Click on the "Browse" button and, if you know where the correct application is, browse to the application you wish to use to open the File Type.
Single Click on the application, then click on the "Open" button.
In the "Editing Action for Type: [File Type], click on the "Ok" button.
In the "Edit File Type" box, click on "Close".
In the "Folder Options" box, click on "Close"

There you go! You should now be able to access those files again!

Tip #2 - Don't you just hate it when you Double Click on your Windows folder, only to get a window with "Show Files" in it? If I didn't want to see the files, I wouldn't have opened the folder, right? Here's how you can get rid of that annoying step. (Remember the warning however - if you're not overly computer literate, changing the contents in the Windows and Systems folders can affect the operation of your PC.) First, Double Click on "My Computer", then Double Click on your "C" drive. Next, Double Click on your "Windows" folder. In the window that shows the warning, Right Click and select "Customize this Folder...". Select the Radio Button titled "Remove Customization", then click "Next". In the next window, click on "Next" again. Finally, click on the "Finish" button. Voila! You can now see all the Folders and Files in your Windows folder. If you want, you can repeat this procedure for your "System" folder.

Tip #3 - Want a fast way to shut your PC down (Win9x/Me)? Add this shortcut to your desktop. First, right-click the desktop, click New, and then click Shortcut. In the "Command line" box, type

c:\windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows

(note the space between rundll.exe and user.exe and the comma without a space between user.exe and exitwindows), then click on "Next". Type in a name for the shortcut, such as "Shutdown", then click on "Finish". Now, to shut your PC down, just double click on this icon.

Tip #4 - With the latest craze in Wireless Networking, so many people simply unpack that lovely new Wireless Router, plug it in, and away they go! But wait a minute!!! If you haven't read your manual and configured your router's security measures, you're basically providing anyone within range of your router with free internet access. "So what" you say? Well, consider the possible consequences. Anyone with a laptop could be sitting outside your driveway, downloading all sorts of illegal software/graphics/music etc and guess what? It all looks like its you that's doing the downloading because its coming from your connection to your ISP. And when the police come knocking, they won't be going after the guy in the driveway with the laptop, oh no....they'll be coming for you! So, read your router's manual, and configure the security. To really make your wireless network as safe as possible, be sure to set your encryption to 128 bit, and even limit the connections to the PCs in your house by only granting access to the MAC addresses of those PC's. You can find out the MAC address of each PC you want to grant access to by opening up a DOS window and type IPCONFIG /ALL (Windows 2000/XP - there's a space between ipconfig and the /all). The MAC address is displayed as the Physical Address.

Have a Windows question that you need an answer to? Simply e-mail the Techie! We'll try to answer your question as soon as possible. Or if you have a tip you'ld like to provide, let us know and we'll post it here as well.