Windows XP: set a restore point to save that stable setting

OK, now you’ve got your PC just the way you want it with all the programs installed, and it hasn’t crashed in awhile!

You should then backup all settings of Windows right now, so that whenever you run into some error in the future, you can warp back to this ’snapshot’.

In windows, you can do this by using the built-in System Restore feature:
1. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
2. Click on ‘create restore point’ and click ‘next’
3. Give a name to your restore point that is descriptive. For example, you might write ‘before installation of Office 2007'
4. Click on OK. It will process your request, and let you know if it’s successful, which it usually is.
5. If you ever neeed to go back to a restore point, then you click on ‘restore’ on step 2.

In Windows, sometimes you run into some weird errors when you are installing new upgrades of some software, or installing new software. If you plan on installing any major software (like photoshop) or any shareware/freeware that you’re not too familiar with, I suggest you always do this, so that you can go ‘back in time’ to when things were good, just in case things go bad.

Sometimes, you’ll get an error as a result of some software, where you cannot boot into windows at all, and you might panic, b/c you can’t get into Windows to get back into system restore. If that happens, do the following:

1. During the boot up of your machine, press and hold the F8 button
2. It will give you a menu of things to choose from - select ’safe mode’
3. You should be able to boot in now to a basic stripped down lookings windows xp.
4. Go and restore from there, and reboot your machine. It should work fine.

You might be wondering, will I lose all my documents as well created after the restore point if I go back to a previous point? The answer is no, but you will lose all APPLICATIONS you installed into windows after that restore point.

If you’ve never done this, I suggest you do one now. Takes less than 5 mins.

Also, don’t get too happy with restore points.

Each restore point takes a significant amount of memory, so you might want to go back and delete some ifyou don’t need them, but always keep at least one good restore point.

Intro to Windows XP - Part 1

There must be countless sites out there that talk about Windows XP and all the tips and advanced hacks that you can do.

But I know that the common person like you isn't interested in that kind of stuff. You just want to know the basics and how to avoid problems and hassles, and just get a bit more educated.

Today, let's just start with Windows XP and its identity as an operating system (aka OS).

What is an operating system?

Well, it's basically software that acts as an interface and allows you to use your hardware to accomplish the tasks that you want to accomplish.

At a very basic level, it's like your hardware is your car parts. It's got the engine, the tires, the seats, the wheels, etc.

But in order to get it to do what you want it to do (take you somewhere) you need to interface with it somehow. You need to somehow control this thing.

So you have the steering wheel, and the gear shifter (automatic or stick) and the gas pedal and the brakes as your main ways of interacting with your car.

Your operating system is the same thing in a sense (I know it's not a perfect example, but at the basic level it is)

Through all the programming language that makes up Windows XP, it allows you to do thing like register letters and numbers on the monitor when you type via your keyboard.

It also even talks to printers so that if you want to send your document to print, it does so when you click on the print button in MS Word.

So in essence, your OS allows you to interact with your hardware.

There are other OS's out there, but Windows XP is probably the most popular these days (with Vista not faring so well in its debut).

Mac has its OS X in different versions, the latest being Leopard (10.5) and Linux has several flavors of different OS's, such as Ubuntu and OpenSUSE.

But I don't go into those today.

Just think of different OS's as different steering wheels, seats, or color, etc. They are all trying to help you do the same things, but they give you a different experience, each with their pro's and con's of course.

UPDATE 2/27:
If you want a more 'geeky' but more thorough explanation of an OS, you can check out Webopedia's definition here.

The portable... DESKTOP?

This was just too funny, so I have to link to it.

Checkout the mobile desktop prank

Excel: get a high level summary with pivot tables

If at work, you're using lots of data in excel, and need quick summaries, a pivot table is the way to go. You can use it to filter down your data to a high-level summary, using tables and charts.

However, it can be a bit tricky to learn.

But Microsoft has made its own nifty video tutorial on how to use pivot tables. I found it quite useful.

Oh and a site benefit - people will be impressed when you tell them you know how to use Excel's pivot tables! (esp. your boss)

Powerpoint Tip: use the keys 'B' and 'W' to allow your audience to focus

If you've ever given presentations, you know that keeping your audience's focus can be tough.

Part of the reason for that is because when you have a slide up there, the audience naturally wants to read what's up there. But ironically, while doing that, they are ignoring you, the presenter.

When giving a powerpoint presentation, sometimes, you’ll want to elaborate on something and get the audience’s full attention by blanking out the slide from the screen.

You can fold a piece of paper and put it over the projector, but here's a faster, more saavy way.

There are 2 ways:

1. Press the B key to black out the screen.

2. Press the W key to white out the screen.

Press the B or W key again to get your slide back on the screen. (it's not case-sensitive by the way)