Computer Tips

Use multiple browser windows to make surfing more efficient.  The idea is to be reading one site, while the next one that you are going to is loading in the background.  All browsers (Netscape Navigator, Internet Explore, AOL) let you have more than one browser page working at the same time.  There are two ways to do this.  After opening your browser normally, to get a second browser window to appear, you can either (1) Click File, New, Window to open a brand new fresh window or (2) right-click on a link and pick "Open in New Window" and this will automatically open that link in the new window.  You can have as many windows as you want opened at once and all loading while you read the first one.  
  
Write serial numbers or key numbers for software directly on the software CD's so you never loose them.  Microsoft software is the worst with 20 digit serial numbers printed on those green slips of paper that you always loose.   The Sharpie ultra fine point permanent markers are great for writing on CD's.  Also, writing your name on them is good if you loan cd's out.

If you can't find the Microsoft green slip with the serial number for your Windows 95/98 CD, there is a way to retrieve it.
To find your OEM or register number for Windows, go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, System and in that gray window under the words Registered To:, it will show the OEM number that you need to enter when installing Windows.  Write it on your CD now!!! : )

Also, if you can't find serial numbers for any other programs, most programs have the serial number built into the Help menu.  
To obtain this number, open the program, then on the menu at the top, click on Help, then on the About (Program Name) line, it will show the version of software and the serial number.  Write them on the CD!!!

Keep all of your data, documents and pictures in the same folder (My Documents) so you can save or back them up quickly and reliably.  Windows automatically makes a folder called My Documents.  This is a good place to keep data.  Make folders inside of My Documents to further organize data, such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Pictures, Bookmarks, Money, etc.  Don't worry about keeping or saving programs that are installed from CD's because you can always reinstall them.  But, any info that YOU put into programs or pictures or files that you save need to be in My Documents.  

A good example of data that you put into a program is Outlook with it's calendar, contacts, journals, emails, etc.  All of this info needs to be saved in My Documents.  To do this, make a folder in My Documents called Outlook and then Export (into a .pst file) your contacts, calendar, etc into this folder.  

Other info to think about, Internet Bookmarks or Favorites, Money or Quicken, AOL address book and Personal Filing Cabinet.  When you keep all of your data in the My Documents folder, then periodically, save the My Documents folder to a zip disk or some back up media and all your data will be safe.  Try to make a habit to save your information at least once a month.  Computers will fail and sometimes you simply have to start over completely.  If you have your data stored in one place (My Documents) and have a recent backup, then you can go from zero to back to normal with nothing lost in about a day.  If you don't save your data, then it could take years to get back everything you have done.