Pc configuration Tips
Installing a Shared Printer
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Installing a Shared Printer To install a shared printer you would have to map to it or install a network printer. You would do this by:
In my case no network printers were found because there aren’t any. It won’t see my shared printer…..and neither will other computers because it is a hidden share. 
I would recommend clicking on Print a test page just to make sure everything is working. If it does not work, make sure the printer is turned on.
LOGGING IN FORCE USE OF Ctrl+Alt+Del WHEN LOGGING IN An excellent Microsoft Knowledge Base article on this subject explains how to do it and also provides links Another way to accomplish this without editing the Windows Registry or using the link to “fix it” is to edit the Local Security Policy for the computer. To do this:
CLEAR LAST USER NAME LOGGED IN There are a plethora of resources for doing this via the Internet by Googling on the subject. However, many of them require you to edit the Windows Registry…..something I normally do not recommend. Do not attempt to edit the Windows Registry unless you REALLY, REALLY know what you are doing. Inadvertent changes or deletions can be catastrophic. Another way to accomplish this without editing the Windows Registry is to edit the Group Policy for the computer. An alternative to the steps below would be to click on the Start button, click on Run, type gpedit.msc, and then click OK. This opens the MicroSoft Console (.msc). It is a bit different from the Local Security Policy and is a bit more comprehensive. Same mantra for the Windows Registry applies to the Group Policy Editor…..inadvertent changes can be catastrophic!!! I used to have a lot of fun editing these when people walked away from their computer and did not do the required Ctrl+Alt+Del to lock the computer when they left their desk! However, I did very benign and harmless things like:
Please note: I saved all the open files first because most people not knowing what to do would reboot their PC so they didn’t touch any keys! To clear the last user name of the person who logged onto the PC:
DESKTOP The Windows Desktop is a resource managed by Windows. Keep items on the desktop to a minimum. Doing reduces the amount of resources Windows commits to managing the Desktop. Do not keep files on the desktop. Keep them in folders. Reduce the icons on the desktop by also keeping them logically grouped in folders. For example, below is a snapshot of my Tools folder on the desktop:
Not only have I moved all my Tool icons off the Desktop, I also keep them in folders categorized for which purpose they serve. Please note, I generically label them to reduce the number of folders. Also note that not everyone would agree with my classifications…...use whatever works for you! Where possible use Shortcuts. I have a Folder on my desktop labeled Folders. In it I keep shortcuts to many other folders on numerous internal and external drives. VISUAL EFFECTS You can gain some performance by turning off custom Visual Effects. While some turn them off altogether, I like some aspects of them and only turn off those I find annoying. To view the custom Visual Effects:
The above window will appear. My preference is to uncheck anything that says fade or slide and Show preview and filters in folder.
Please note the options other than Custom, which is my preference. Each has its own advantage. Most people will choose Adjust for best performance. The default is the first option, Let Windows choose…... TASKBAR AND START MENU PROPERTIES START MENU The Start Menu appears when you click on the Start Button To customize the Start Menu:
My preference is for the Classic Start menu: 
As opposed to the newer Start menu style: 
Mainly my preference deals with functionality and not performance. I have not tested the difference in performance between the two and have never seen any such literature. Please note that I limit the icons for individual programs in the “menu”. Instead, I place most program icons in folders. Once again, the Start Menu is a resource that Windows must manage. By keeping the number of items at the top level to a minimum, that reduces the resources managed by Windows. Please note that by clicking on the Customize… button in the window below: 
You get many other options associated with the Start Menu: 
Scrolling down provides many options among which I choose to display:
Other defaults are shown above. TASKBAR To customize the Taskbar, the bar across the bottom of most Windows desktops:
My preferences are shown above:
I like having my favorite programs available at the click of a button and without having to go to the Desktop to click on an icon.
Please note that any Taskbar items turned on consumes Windows resources. If you have a lot of RAM (memory), a fast PC, etc. these options may not be an issue. However, on older PC’s or computers without many hardware resources, some of the above choices could impact overall performance. While using an option above may only consume 1% of available resources you may not be concerned. However, if you use 20 such items, you’ve impacted your overall performance 20%. That is why I use many of the optimization tips found in this document. While one item may only save me 1% of my performance load, 20 such tips increases my overall performance 20%. This is just an example. Some items will be greater than and sometimes less than 1% each. The overall gauge for measurement is beyond the scope of this document. TOOLBARS The Taskbar toolbars are displayed at the bottom of the desktop to the right of the Taskbar and to the left of the Notification Area…..the far right of the image below:
By default my Desktop Toolbar is displayed. 
By clicking on the arrows to the upper right of the default icons shown on my desktop, you get a list of all Desktop icons: 
The black arrow at the bottom (hard to see unless you expand the image) indicates you can scroll down for more icons. The black arrow to the right of an icon for each folder indicates there are icons for other folders contained within that folder. Moving the mouse over a folder icon produces another list:
You can repeat the process of drilling down on each folder by simply keep moving your mouse over a folder with a black arrow to the right of it. My preferences for Desktop or Taskbar Toolbars are shown below.
The interesting tidbit about the Windows Media Player Toolbar is that when playing music in the background, once minimized you can manage Windows Media Player without having to maximize the window. The Toolbar for Windows Media Player is displayed below: 
You can (from left to right): maximize the window, Stop, Go Back one song, pause/start, Go Forward one song, adjust the sound volume, display video and visualizations, or maximize the window. I do not use the other Toolbars so no content will be posted regarding their use. I manage all Zune content from the Zune software interface and have never found the Toolbar that useful. NOTIFICATION AREA The Notification Area is the bottom right of the desktop on most Windows computers. Some choose to move the Taskbar…..it can be on top, on the left or on the right of the Desktop.
Software update notifications are often indicated by an icon appearing in the Notification Area. To update the software--most often Adobe, Java or Microsoft Updates (if you have opted for Update Only, But Let Me Choose When to Install)--you would just double click on the icon and follow steps associated with the install package(s) downloaded. My preference is to show all items in the Notification Area. This keeps updates from being hidden, makes you aware of what is running and the status of software that provides such details. For example in the above Notification Area example, the icon for my website e-mail The default for the Notification Area is to Hide Inactive Icons. To change this,
You will notice that I also have all System icons checked. Also notice from the Notification Area picture above it shows the clock, the weekday and the date. By default it will only show the time. However, I have my Taskbar height set at three icons. If you set the height to two icons, the clock and weekday will be displayed. For more about the Taskbar see Microsoft Windows, Taskbar and Start Menu Properties. MICROSOFT UPDATE vs. WINDOWS UPDATE One of the confusing items about Microsoft Windows is Windows Update versus Microsoft Update. In Windows XP by default there is Windows Update. When you start Windows Update, you will see messages and a link to update Windows Update (Microsoft Windows updates only) to Microsoft Update (all Microsoft products: Windows, Office, etc.). However, in Windows Vista and Windows 7 Microsoft Update is now called Windows Update! Windows XP By default Microsoft Windows XP comes with an item on the Start Menu labeled Windows Update. The Windows Update web page will prompt you to install updates each time you open the web page (and if updates exist). However, you will notice the mention of upgrading to Microsoft Update (see right-hand side of Windows Update web page). In Windows XP, Windows Updates provide just that, updates for Microsoft Windows, the operating system! However, Microsoft Update provides updates to all Microsoft Products: Windows, Office, Windows Media Player, .NET Framework, Windows Defender, Microsoft SQL Server, etc. These updates are crucial to both operability and security. It is highly advisable to update to Microsoft Update. After updating Windows XP, delete the Start Program item Windows. I would recommend upgrading to Microsoft Update. There will be several dialog boxes asking to Install ActiveX items related to Microsoft Update. Click Install, OK or Yes when prompted and you should have little difficulty completing the process. Once completed will you get to a web page with two buttons. I always choose Custom because I want to see what is being installed. Some items I do not install right away. I let others be the guinea pig and install at later date. One example is Internet Explorer. I also do not install anything related to Desktop Search. It is overhead I do not want running on my computer. If you want a good search utility for your computer, try an excellent free program called Agent Ransack.
The default is Windows Update. Windows Update in Windows Vista and Windows 7 is the same as Microsoft Update in Windows XP!
You will also notice I have deleted a few other icons you may have listed…….just a personal preference. I have deleted them and I cannot remember all default icons I deleted so providing a list would be futile. Changing the behavior and default for Microsoft\Windows Update
If Microsoft Updates are available, which is usually on patch Tuesdays, and if, like me, you have your Microsoft Updates to download and notify you when they have downloaded, an icon will appear in your Notification Area. 
Click on this icon and Windows Update will open. 
Please note your options above. There is one important and one optional update. Each of those items provides a link to a list of what updates are available in each category. If you click on the 1 important update is available link you get a list of all important updates: 
Click OK to return to Windows Update. Click on 1 optional update is available link and you get a list of the available optional updates:
Click the checkbox if you want this update installed with your important updates. Click OK and you will return to Windows Update. In this example, I did not choose to install the optional update.
Click on the Install Updates Button Often a window will appear indicating Windows Update is creating a restore point. After Windows Updates creates a restore point, it will proceed to install any updates chosen. 
Once complete, a window will appear indicating if updates were successful and, if not, which ones failed to install. Sometime a reboot and another attempt will install failed updates.  .
WINDSOWS FIREWALL There are hardware and software firewalls. Hardware firewalls are discussed above in the section Hardware, Router. Windows Firewall is a software solution. There are many others. As I previously mentioned, I have used Zone Alarm and highly recommend it in households that have children. However, it presents issues. Everything coming in and going out of the PC over the network or Internet has to have a rule.....allow or disallow. It gets tedious setting up the rules and having to keep clicking Allow or Disallow. However, for many it is well worth the effort. Another issue is click, click, oops! Someone may click on Allow when they meant Disallow or vice versa. TURN ON OF TURN OFF WINDOWS FIREWALL To turn on or off Windows Firewall:
ALLOW PROGRAM ACCESS TO WINDOWS FIREWALL To allow a program or software to get past the firewall to access another computer, shared resource or the Internet:
Notice it has taken you to the Exceptions tab. Programs listed here with a check mark are exceptions Allowed through the Firewall. If the program you want an exception for is not listed you can click on the Add program… button and browse for the program’s executable file to allow it as an exception through the Firewall.
The above list will appear for you to choose your program from. Notice there is a Browse… button to browse for your program’s executable if it is not listed.
WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER CONFIGURE WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER SOUND CARD USAGE There are several items I always upgrade or add to any PC purchase. One of them is the Sound Card. If you can afford it, I would suggest upgrading to what you can afford. Also, any inexpensive set of speakers will make a world of difference and even more so if you purchase speakers with a subwoofer. Also, if ever asked during Windows Update or when starting Windows Media Player, install any upgrades. Please note for the images below I have Windows Vista on a Dell Laptop and do not currently have my external Sound Card plugged in. It is an external card and because of its cost, I do not regularly use it. The directions below will speak to Windows XP but can be applied to Windows Vista or Windows 7. To take advantage of the Sound Card in Windows Media Player:
Otherwise, notice above you could right-click and get to the menu items of your choice. I do not like having to right-click. I want it and I want it now! 
CONFIGURE WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER MUSIC BACKUPS If you followed directions above, the Classic Menus would be turned on. If not, right-click below Title Bar and follow along starting with step 2 below.
You are not quite ready just yet. I have standards. They may not be the same as yours but I have other reasons for the decisions hereafter,
My preferences are shown above. I only like the ID3 tag data shown above in the file name. I keep my music in folders according to genre and with the file name above, they sort by Artist first, Album second and Song title last. What is ID3 tag data? The last segment in the MP3 format for a file is broken up into sections where data associated with that file can be stored…..the ID3 tag. The options above represent the amount of data and fields that can be stored. Please note that older version of such data exist (e.g. ID3v1 and ID3v2.3). Remember, the exercise above is only naming the file created during the Rip Music process. Viewing and editing the ID3 tag information is a completely separate process. I good tool for viewing and editing ID3 tag data is Mp3tag. With Mp3tag you can highlight numerous files and change one field at once. For example, if you know you have 100 songs by Ozzie Osbourne, and the Artist field is blank, you can highlight all files, click on Artist field for one song, enter Ozzie Osbourne and all files selected will be updated for the ID3 tag, Artist. Please learn from one of my mistakes. Do not edit such data using Windows Media Player. By using Windows Media Player you are not editing the ID3 tag data contained in each file. You are updating a database Windows Media Player keeps on each file. If you lose the hard drive the Windows Media Player database with all your changes are gone. I had backed up all my CD’s and made such changes. Upon restoring and copying my synced data back to the slave drive in the PC, all my music had no ID3 tags……the Windows Media Player database was gone. Another reason why I use Mp3tag is that I use a very defined set of genres (Blues & Jazz, Classical, Dance, Oldies, Pop, Rock, and Techno) to define my music files. There are many genres as listed on Wikipedia.
IMPORT MUSIC TO WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER LIBRARY If you followed directions above the Classic Menus would be turned on. If not, right-click below Title Bar and follow along starting with step 2 below.
Please wait for all files in designated paths to be added to the Library.
INTERNET EXPLORER Yes, I use Internet Explorer (IE). I use Internet Explorer because, as most software I use, it is used in the corporate environment. What I use at work, I use at home. It reduces the learning curve and increases my productivity at work and home. One of the concerns from a security perspective for browsers, including Internet Explorer, is what I refer to as Browser Hijack Objects (BHO’s). If you suspect unknown IE performance degradation it could be a malicious BHO. HijackThis, a Trend Micro tool, helps to get rid of malicious BHO’s as do other products mention on the BHO link above to Wikipedia. Using HijackThis is explained in my Freeware Guide, Security Usage . If you do not like Internet Explorer opening in a window that is not maximized, there is a Freeware Utility that will automatically maximize the window every time Internet Explorer opens. The Freeware utility, and one of my Freeware Favorites, is IE New Windows Maximizer. CLOSING WINDOWS If I ever had to list my top ten list of hints or advice for PC users, the top 3 would be the same tip: use Microsoft Windows shortcut keys to closing windows opened by Internet Explorer. As you browse the Internet, undoubtedly there will be a time when a window pops up that you did not want. To reduce this threat, I use the Google Toolbar to prevent popups. There are a myriad of reasons for these popups or uninvited windows…..malicious code, redirection, etc. Whatever the case may be, the mistake people most often make is to click on the window in any form, other than the title bar. If there is a Close, Exit, OK or Yes button and you click on it, chances are you just gave the window the opportunity to run code associated with the object you just clicked. The BEST way to close a window that is open, that you do not want open, is to use the keyboard shortcut for closing a window……ALT+F4. Repeat, ALT+F4 is the keyboard shortcut for closing the active window. That works for whatever window is current. It could be Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word or any other program. ALT+F4 will close it. If no programs are open, ALT+F4 will close the only window that is open…..your Desktop or Microsoft Windows. I mentioned the title bar earlier as the only safe area to click on a window that you do not want open. Some windows upon opening will minimize or move to the background. As a result, to use ALT+F4, the window must be the active window. In this case, you should click on the title bar, the bar that goes across the top of the window. Doing so makes the window the active window and ALT+F4 will close it. DOMAIN OR URL SHORTCUT My domain name for my website is recursivecreativity.com. If you do not have a shortcut to my website (shame on you) you must type the URL or domain name in the address bar of Internet Explorer each time you want to visit a website. Most people will type www.recursivecreativity.com and press enter. If you are typing the URL with “www.” and “.com” you are wasting time. All you need to do is type recursivecreativity and then press Ctrl+Enter. By doing so, http://www. and .com will be added to what you have typed and Internet Explorer display the website. INTERNET EXPLORER TOOLBARS Do not install a lot of toolbars. Install one you find useful and stick with it. Everything you “add on” to your browser decreases performance by adding to the overhead or processes the browser or Windows has to manage. Also, they are risky due to exploits. I use the Google Toolbar. I most likely couldn’t open my browser if I installed every toolbar available these days. Pay close attention when installing software, even Freeware (e.g. AVG, Daemon Tools, etc.), because everyone tries to install their own toolbar. I always uncheck the option when available. If not available, I disable the toolbar in Internet Explorer or remove it by uninstalling it in Add/Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista). CLEANING OUT CACHES I cannot count how many times people ask me to help them with their PC that has become so slow it is not worth the effort to browse the Internet anymore. Over 95% of the time it is due to their caches become so full the space allocated to the caches has consumed all available space on their hard drive. The other 5% is due to malicious items, such as viruses, impeding the performance of their browser. Viruses used to be the only thing to worry about. The more politically correct term and becoming more widely used is Malware. An item not mentioned in the aforementioned Wikipedia link about Malware is Bots. There are many types of Bots that can affect your PC. I will only mention two, Spambots and Pornbots. Spambots harvest e-mail addresses so that they can be added to Spam Lists. Pornbots are programs that run unbeknownst to the computer owner. They are used to store illegal pornography (kiddie porn) on your PC. Thus, the actual owners of the illegal porn cannot get caught in possession of it. In essence they are using your PC as a Porn server so that others can access it via the program the computer owner does not know is running. Thus, using Malware software such as Malwarebytes, SUPERAntiSpyware, and Spybot is more important than ever. Each of the aforementioned programs have Freeware versions and are listed in my Freeware Favorites under Security. To clean out your Internet Explorer caches, etc.:
Please note that I currently use Internet Explorer 8.
Shown above are my default preferences.
The above progress bar will appear. Please wait! Once finished, the above window will disappear. Also please note that this is one way to see an immediate impact to performance of a sluggish PC when browsing the Internet. A more comprehensive and recommended option would be to install a “cleaner” utility such as CCleaner. It does a lot more than just clean the IE caches as described above. CCleaner has many features that allow for customization. For example, some bank websites require a security cookie. By deleting the cookie, as the aforementioned Delete Browsing History would perform, you will have to get a new cookie from the bank in order to access your account again. CCleaner allows you to flag that cookie as safe and not delete it during the “cleaning” process. There are many opinions on how often you should clean out your caches. I run CCleaner at least once every day. While not absolutely necessary, it is my preference. As for running other Malware type programs, see page 5 of my Freeware Guide, Security Usage for my recommended schedule and directions for using. A program I used with Windows XP was BeClean. What was awesome about it was the customization capabilities. I could create a customized profile for my PC and export it to a file for importing on another computer. At one time I had 12 PC’s and this saved me a lot of time. I still have BeClean and there are some websites that provide downloads for antiquated software no longer available. PROXY SERVER There are malicious scripts and programs that install code on your PC. Often times they keep you from connecting to the Internet so they can have hidden access, just for fun, etc. There are a myriad of reasons for doing so…..too many to list here. Over 90% of the time when I help someone with no Internet connectivity it is because some malicious code turned on the Proxy Server setting in Internet Explorer. To turn off the Proxy Server:
Directory: files -> miscellaneous files -> Integer programming and game theory files -> 4 Integer Programming files -> Bpa vehicle Window Repair Scenario #1 task: Procure vehicle window relacement. Objective files -> Pop Warner History files -> North Carolina Inclusion Initiative Mapping Where Children with ieps are Being Served Purpose files -> Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Program Data: Standard 1 Exhibit 4d files -> Hanban – asia society confucius classrooms network 2010 request for proposal files -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations miscellaneous -> Acronyms and Abbreviations A/dacg arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group Download 178.92 Kb. Share with your friends:
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to click and install or “fix” solution automatically. I would recommend clicking on the link. Do not attempt to edit the Windows Registry unless you REALLY, REALLY know what you are doing. Inadvertent changes or deletions to the Windows Registry can be catastrophic.
which is at the bottom left of most Microsoft Windows desktops…..at the far left of the Taskbar.
shows I have new e-mail as indicated by the small yellow envelope in the lower right-hand corner of the icon. If I had no new e-mail, the envelope would not appear.
