Spyware Programs and Adware Programs

Adware and spyware are terms used to describe programs that gather information from your computer and transmit what they find to a third party, usually for advertising purposes. Often adware / spyware programs monitor the user's surfing habits, but they can also gather personal information. Spyware may be able to detect your name, address, and even sensitive information you input into web forms. Adware / spyware programs can also cause computer crashes, and eat up a huge amount of system resources. Good spyware and adware removal programs are essential for safe online activities in today's Internet.

Illegal Operations

I have seen people panic over their computer's “Illegal operation” error message. Basically, the message states that the program you're running has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. Don't worry, no laws have been violated, and neither you nor your computer is off to the Big House. What the error message should say is “Your computer just had a brain freeze and messed up: please try again.” Everyone gets illegal operation errors occasionally. If you get frequent error messages, use a computer health and safety scan to check for computer registry errors that may be causing illegal operations.

Computer Mouse Problems

Learning to use a computer mouse takes time. If you want to practice your point and click skills by eliminating your computer mouse problems, Windows XP provides a nice, safe training environment with Solitaire and Minesweeper games. To get to them, single-click the Desktop start menu with the left mouse button. Select the All Programs option, and then hover the mouse pointer over the Games option. A side menu will open. In this menu click the game you want to play. Solitaire's great for practicing clicking and dragging mouse skills.

Restrictions on Outlook Express Attachments

If you use Outlook Express, you may find you can't save email attachments, and that an image an email appears as a little red x. Don't worry—your computer isn't messed up (although running a regular computer health and safety check is never a bad idea). You need to change Outlook Expresses security options. Open the Tools menu and single-click Options with the left mouse button. In the Options dialog box, single-click the Security tab. Now click the box marked “Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus' so the checkmark is removed from the box. Single-click the Apply button to save your new settings, and then single-click OK. You will now be able to view attachments (just make sure your antivirus program is up-to-date first).

Forward and Back Buttons

Most users figure out Internet Explorer's Forward and Back buttons for themselves: clicking these buttons lets you navigate through web pages you've visited. What many people don't notice are the little arrows to the right of the Forward and Back buttons. Try these computer tips and tricks: Click one of these arrows, when active, and you'll open a list of recently visited websites. Just click the website you want and IE will take you there.

The Power of the Undo Function

Here are some computer tips and tricks: One or two accidental mouse clicks or keystrokes can select and delete a hefty chunk of a document's text. Suddenly the company's annual report is replaced by a barren, empty page. While a howl of primal anguish is certainly an option here, don't give into despair just yet. Whatever you do, don't close the program or save it. Instead, click open the Edit menu and click the Undo option. Clicking this option will undo the last action you performed, and should return your lost work. The Undo option is a standard option in Word and other Office programs. Even Internet Explorer includes an Undo feature.

Recent Documents and Missing Computer Files

It's not unusual for new computer users to save documents and find they can't relocate the file. If you have lost a file, most Windows documents are stored in the My Documents folder. Word, Excel, and other Windows Office programs save a list of recently accessed documents in their File menus. Windows XP also lists recently viewed documents in the Start Menu's Recent Documents list. If all these options fail, there's always the Start menu's Search options.

Computer Error Messages

Computer error messages can be alarming. Sometimes computer error messages indicate a need for some computer maintenance or a computer health and safety check. Other times the computer error message can be quickly resolved. Take the System Disc Error message as an example. Often, this message simply means you left a CD-Rom or floppy disc in a disc drive the last time you shut down. Remove any discs in the drives, and reboot if you need to. That usually solves the problem. If it doesn't, it could be a sign that you have a serious computer problem, and need to contact professional help.

Password Protect Files

Whether you're new to computers or an online veteran, choosing and remembering passwords for email, online shopping accounts, and other activities requires some thought. A password should not be easy to guess: don't use your name, birth date, or hometown as a password. For extra computer safety try using the first letters of a phrase that means something to you, combined with numbers. For instance, the phrase “I met my wife in ‘93” could become the password “immwi93.”

Computer Registry Errors

Your computer registry contains all the settings and commands that keep your computer running smoothly. There are hundreds of online computer tips explaining how to change, or “tweak,” Registry settings. If you're a new user, stay away from these tips. Enter the wrong information and you can seriously mess up your PC.

The Registry is altered whenever you add or delete programs. Over time, corrupt files, obsolete shortcuts and other errors can clutter up the Registry, slowing down PC performance and increasing the chance of PC crashes. A PC health check can reveal computer registry errors and corrupt files.