Business Software Made Easy - Time Saving Tips

How to improve your computer's performance

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:17:07 GMT

Originally posted March 31 2008

Is your computer running slow? Are you wondering how to get more performance from your computer? Here are a few tips you can do:

-Run the Disk Cleanup

Many files are created in the normal operation of your computer. Once they are unneeded, they sometimes are not deleted. Disk Cleanup will eliminate these unneeded files.

In Vista and Windows XP

1. Click the Start button

2. All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup

3. Select all the check boxes

4. Click OK

-Delete Temporary Files manually:

Like the temporary files cleaned-up by Disk Cleanup, there are additional temporary files that are created in the normal operation of your computer, but do not get deleted when your computer is done with them. This process deletes temporary files saved in different locations identified by Disk Cleanup.

Note: This is also a great troubleshooting technique when you are having difficulty installing software.

In Vista and Windows XP

1. Start > Run

2. Enter '%temp%' (without the ')

3. Edit > Select All

4. Edit > Delete

5. Close the window

1. Start > Run

2. Enter 'temp' (without the ')

3. Edit > Select All

4. Edit > Delete

5. Close the window

If you get a message that a file cannot be deleted after completing either step 4 or 7, just restart your computer then repeat the process as soon as you restart.

-Defragment your Hard Drive

Your hard drive is similar to a record (remember records?) Well, unlike a record your files are not saved in sequence rather they are scattered over the entire disk (technically called a platter). The more scattered the files, the more effort your computer has to make to find your files - this increases the time it takes to find your files.

In Windows XP (In Vista, Disk Defragmerter happens automatically)

1. Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter

2. Click 'Defragment Now' or 'Run'

-Add RAM memory to your computer. Additional RAM memory will noticeably enhance your computer's performance. May people believe that increasing the side of their disk drive will enhance their computer's performance, but this may not be true (unless you see messages stating 'Low disk space' or similar messages).

-Add more RAM memory to your computer

RAM memory is the intermediary location your computer saves data while its running. Things like the programs that are currently running, the files you opened, etc. The less amount of RAM you have the slower your computer since each open program and file competes for it's share of the RAM memory. Adding more RAM is probably the most noticeable way to increase your computer's performance.

To add more RAM memory you must first determine how much memory you have by:

1. Start > My Computer

2. Right Click on My Computer

3. Click 'Properties'

-The amount of memory is displayed

For windows XP computers, you should have at least 1GB or .99MB of RAM memory. For Vista computers, you should have at least 2GB of RAM. If you don't then you should add more memory to enhance your computer's performance.

You can purchase additional memory through your computer manufacturer's website or other vendors like your computer manufacturer's website, Kingston.com, PNY.com, or a local electronics retailer.

We can assist with increasing your computer's performance by completing all these tasks and more. Just give us a call!

Expand or Collapse your Groups in Outlook in a few clicks

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:35:25 GMT

Originally Posted March 17, 2008

If you have taken the time to classify your Contacts in MS Outlook into Groups, you may have wanted a short-cut to expand or collapse your Groups. Well, here's where it is:

In Outlook (all versions)

-In your Contacts folder when looking at Current View - By Groups:

1. View > Expand/Collapse Groups > Collapse Groups

All your Groups are collapsed

That's it!

How to attach your vCard to your outbound Outlook E-mail

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 21:17:05 GMT

Originally Posted March 9, 2008

I have gotten a few requests on how to attach your vCard to your outbound emails in Outlook (a vCard is an attachment to your email that contains your contact info you have previously entered). It is very handy since the recipient can merely double-click on the attachment then click on Save and Close and your contact info is saved to their Contacts folder. Here's how you do it:

In Outlook (This depicts versions through 2003. The 2007 version is very similar)

Create a vCard for yourself in your Contacts folder

In Outlook:

1. Open your Contact folder

2. Click New

3. Enter your contact information

4. Click the 'Save and Close' button

Setup Outlook to include your vCard with all your outbound emails

1. Click Tools > Options...

2. Click the 'Mail Format' tab

3. Click the 'Signatures...' button

4. Select your default email signature

Note: in 2007, click the 'Business Card' button, then click 'OK'

5. Click the 'Edit...' button

6. Click the 'New vCard from Contact...' button

7. Select your contact record info (be sure not to select your entry for your Business Fax)

8. Click 'OK'

Caveat: Completing the above steps will send a vCard with every outbound email - which may be annoying to people you email regularly since it will appear like each of your emails has a file attached. Instead, you may want to send your vCard selectively. You can do that by:

1. Create a new email

2. Insert > Item...

3. Select your Contact

4. Click 'OK'

That's it!