Defeat Auto-Play
In WIN95, holding down the Shift key when inserting a CD will defeat the auto-play feature.  You may want to use this to keep a start-up screen from appearing, or to wait before playing music for the right moment.  (That's right:  Your system can play audio CDs if you're set up for it!)

Changing what cell [Enter] moves to in Excel

As the saying goes, old habits are hard to break. If you've spent years navigating through a program using the [Enter] key, you may be frustrated at the way in which Excel moves your cell selector. For instance, if you've used a program where the [Enter] key moved horizontally through cells or fields, you may be disappointed to find that you have to use the [Tab] key instead because [Enter] moves the cell selector down the column. Or, you may want [Enter] to simply commit your entry and not move to a new cell at all. Fortunately, this is easy to configure in Excel. Just open he Tools menu and select Options. Then, click on the Edit tab. If you don't want the cell selector to move when you press [Enter], deselect the Move Selection After Enter check box and click OK. Otherwise, make sure Move Selection After Enter is selected, choose which cell you want to make active from the Direction dropdown list, and click OK.

This Tip was provided courtesy of ZDTIPS.

 Closing A Windows Application

There are THREE major ways to close a Windows application. The two that are most common are choosing File/Exit from the File Drop-Down Menu and hitting the "X" (Close Document) button in the upper right corner of the window. Their third way, which is a bit of a secret, is to double-click the Control-Menu Icon in the upper LEFT corner. That's the icon which is different for each application and which, when single-clicked, provides some full-application options.

E-Mail Privacy

Here's a way to protect the privacy of your e-mail recipients while sending a broadcast or mass e-mailing.

In Netscape, create a new list with all your recipients, and name the list something like Recipient List Suppressed.

Now, when you want to address your broadcast message, using the TO: designator, address it to one person (perhaps yourself) whose address you want to show up.  Hit return and Netscape will take you to a second TO: line.  Click directly on the TO: designator and select  BCC: (this means "blind carbon copy").  Now put your Recipient List Suppressed mail list address here.  None of the individual addresses will show up in the e-mail, and you have protected the privacy of your recipients.

Windows Fast-Boot
If you need to boot up Windows fast, hold down the SHIFT key during Windows' entire load time.  Most software which normally starts up along with windows (such as PIMs and several tool tray items) won't be included in the boot-up,  so Windows can load faster.  Of course, you'll need to either re-start or load the non-booted software individually later if you want it instantly available.

E-Mail Etiquette
People using e-mail systems sometimes put things in all caps to try to emphasize a point.  The problem is, to the reader, it looks like the writer is SHOUTING AT YOU.  Rather than using all caps, consider creating a new, very short paragraph to emphasize your point.

It works wonders.

Column Line-Up
Often, columns don't line up in a downloaded text file. If you change the typestyle to a non-proportional typestyle such as "Courier," it will usually resolve the problem.

Excel Space Saver
In Microsoft Excel, you can save a bit of disk storage space by reducing the number of empty worksheets which open when you create a new worksheet. Go to Tools, Options, General, and set the "Sheets in New Workbook" to some reasonable number like 2. It's easy to create additional empty sheets later if you need them: just right-click on the sheet tabs and choose Insert Worksheet. 

Emergency Close
In Windows 95 and 98, sometimes if your application seizes up and can't be closed, you can get out of the problem without having to re-start Windows (or your computer). Try holding the Alt key down while tapping the Tab key once. This will shift you to another application. Now right-click on the Taskbar's icon for the application that bombed. Choose close. If the machine is in a good mood, you'll be able to move on (and may re-start the bombed application, usually with no problem). 

Back-Tabbing

In most PC applications, the tab key can tab your cursor in two directions. Tapping the key normally will tab to the right. Holding the shift key down while tapping the tab key will usually "back-tab," moving the cursor to the left.

Saving Files for General Use
If your word processor cannot save a file in a format you need to give to another computer user (such as saving a MS Word file in DisplayWrite using the Save As command), the save the file in "DOS Text" or in "ASCII" instead. Almost every word processor can read these formats even though they will lose some of the fancier formatting.

Excel Cell Copy Trick
In Excel, you can copy one cell to multiple non-contiguous cells. Select the cell you want to copy, hit the copy icon, then while holding down the Ctrl key, click on each cell to which you want copy the source cell. When you're done, let go of the Ctrl key and hit Enter.

Multiple Shortcuts
In Windows 95 & 98, you can create multiple Shortcuts for any program you wish. Use Find from the Start menu to find the program file (they usually end in .exe or in .bat). Then right-click on the file for which you want a shortcut, choose Create Shortcut, and click on Yes when the computer tells you the shortcut must be placed on the desktop. Now close the Find File dialog box, go the desktop, and simply copy the shortcut to any folder or areas you wish. ALSO: You can rename the shortcut by clicking on its name twice in slow succession and then typing whatever you want to name it.

Word Format Painter Extender
In MS Word, double-clicking the "format painter" icon, which looks like a paintbrush, allows you to format multiple, noncontiguous groups of text. Click it again to un-depress the icon.

Computer Life Extension
Your computer consumes about the same electricity as a 300 watt or lower light bulb. Keeping it ON throughout the day uses little electricity and prolongs the machine's life. That's NOT true for laser printers, which should be turned off unless you plan to print during the next four hours.

Windows Open Program Search
In Windows, you can shift among open programs by holding the Alt key down and pressing the TAB key over and over again. When the program you want is indicated, just let go of both the Alt and TAB keys.

Smart Start-Up Sequence
For those who don't leave their machines on indefinitely: Even if you have a surge protector, it is best to turn ON your CPU (the "computer" itself) as the last thing in your start-up sequence. Relatedly, the CPU should be turned OFF first. These steps reduce the potential for voltage spikes to scramble your machine's memory.

Laser Printer Secret
Laser printers actually use toner at regular intervals while they are "idle." To save toner and a bit of electricity, turn the printer OFF if you're not going to use it within the next couple of hours.

Speed Up Your Word Processing Technique

Most people correct the mistakes they make while keying material as soon as they become aware of the error. In Word97, this is particularly likely since the default is for Word97 to underline in red words it thinks are spelled incorrectly.

However, it is must faster to key in the document without correcting any errors (except by using the backspace key for a typo one or two letters back) and without doing any fancy formatting. Only after you have the text in, go back and do your corrections and formatting. It may feel awkward to leave those errors sitting on the page for a while, but the ultimate time spent making a perfect document will be significantly less. Besides that, this technique forces the writer to proofread more carefully, and that's always a good thing.

No-No Passwords

Passwords are supposed to protect you: They help keep accounts, private correspondence, file-opening privileges, and lots of other stuff inaccessible to prying eyes. But most people are uninventive with their password choices, so it is often easy for a "hacker" (or just an unethical person) to guess the password. Do you use any of these "blacklist" items as passwords?

Your last name
Your first name
Your middle name
Your pet's name
Your pet name for your wife/husband/car/computer
Your license plate
Your nickname
A nickname you use for anyone or anything else in the world
The name of anyone in your family
The name of your boyfriend/girlfriend
Your social security number (or any part of it)
Your employee number
Your age (real or imagined)
Your "lucky number"
Any name or word written on or stuck to your computer or your desk
Your driver's license number
The word "password" (no kidding -- some people actually do this)
Any sequence of numbers (like 12345 or 246810 or 33333or 987654321
Your telephone number or area code at home
Your telephone number or area code at work
Any part of your street address
Your zip code
ANY of the above backwards.

If you use any of these, CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD IMMEDIATELY. These are the things professionals try when tasked to open a password-"protected" file, account, or most anything else.

Adding & Deleting for the Quick Launch Toolbar

In Windows98, the Quick Launch Toolbar to the right of the Start button is a very convenient location for placing shortcuts to the programs you use most often. Placing a shortcut there eliminates the need to search for the program under Start-Programs or for finding the icon on your desktop.

To put a shortcut icon on the toolbar, first create one by going to Explorer (or My Computer), right-clicking on the program (executable or .EXE) file, and selecting Create Shortcut. If the computer puts your shortcut in the folder which you've opened, drag the shortcut to the location on the toolbar where you want it. If the computer tells you that it needs to put the shortcut on the desktop, accept that. Then go to the desktop and drag the shortcut to your desired toolbar location.

When you no longer want a shortcut on the toolbar, right-click over it and choose Delete.

Opening Your File and Application Simultaneously

If you know the name of a document you want to open, whether it's in Word, Excel, Access, or Power Point, one way to get it into production fast it to use the Windows FIND -- Files or Folders command from the Start bar.

Type in the document name (or at least the first several characters) and hit Find now.

Once the document is located, double-click its icon and its parent application (like Word for a .doc document) will automatically open with the file up and running.

This same double-click-the-icon technique works when you want to open a document using Windows Explorer and the My Computer displays, too.

Track Your Excel Worksheet

Although Excel will print a worksheet name in the footer or header area, it doesn't include the path to the sheet. To get the entire path to print, insert =cell("filename") in a cell such as A1. Initially the cell contents will be invisible. Now save the file and put anything in either cell A2 or B1. This makes the path visible, and you can delete the A2 or B1 entry any time. Now set the first row to repeat on every printed page by going to File | Page Setup | Sheet, and in the Rows To Repeat At Top area, type in $1:$1, then click OK. The top row will repeat on every printed sheet and will include the full path to the worksheet.

Capturing Internet Images

You can "pick up" virtually any image from any internet web page.  First, right-click on the image.  Choose "Save Picture As."  The dialog box will let you decide where to put the image on your disk and will also let you re-name it.   You can then use the image anywhere you wish, as long as you do so for non-commercial purposes.  If you want to use the image commercially, you'll need written permission from the page owner and/or image artist or photographer.

Pick Up Your Regular E-Mail From Any Internet-Enabled Computer Free

There is a way to arrange to get your e-mail from any computer that’s hooked up to the internet, including the e-mail that normally gets sent directly to your ISP (internet service provider). And you thought you had to be home to get it! Here’s how to get it anywhere:

First: Sign up for a free Hotmail account at http://www.hotmail.com. Once you have done this, you can get your Hotmail mail from any computer on the net just by going to www.hotmail.com and putting in your username and password. At this point you can get your mail anywhere in the world. So far, so good.

Second: Find out what your incoming e-mail (called a "POP") server name is. You can either call tech support from your ISP and ask, or you can go to your mail program (in Netscape, in Outlook Express [which comes with Internet Explorer], in Eudora, etc.) and look them up. For example, if you get your mail in Netscape, go to Edit/Preferences/Mail & Newsgroups/Mail Servers, and it’ll be there. If you get your mail in Outlook or Outlook Express, go to Tools/Accounts, the click on your ISP account and choose Properties/Servers. Your incoming server will be listed there. Write the server name down, paying attention to all hyphens, periods, etc.

Third: When you’re signed in on Hotmail, go to Options, then to POP Mail. Carefully insert the server name, your user name, and your password. Don’t change the server timeout and port values. Make sure "Leave Messages on POP Server" is checked; that way, even though you’ll be retrieving your messages when in Hotmail at someone else’s computer (maybe while you’re at work), you will still be able to get the messages at home in the normal way, too.

Now click OK.

Next time you go to Hotmail, click Check For: POP Mail when you’re in the In Box and, if you have any new messages waiting for you on your ISP account, Hotmail will retrieve copies of them for you!

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