Find files with Windows 7 Search

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Chad Warner

The search feature in Windows 7 is much better than previous versions of Windows. There are 2 main ways to search for files and folders:

Use the search box on the Start menu to search within your own computer.
Use the search box in a folder to search within any folder, whether on your computer or on a network drive.

Use the search box on the Start menu

Click the Start button , and then type a word or part of a word in the search box.
As you type, items that match your text will appear on the Start menu. The search results are based on text in the file name, text in the file, tags, and other file properties.
Click the item to open it.

Use the search box in a folder

Open the folder or drive that you want to search. This can be a folder or drive on your computer or a network drive.
In the search box in the top right corner of the window, type a word or part of a word.
As you type, the contents of the folder are filtered to reflect each successive character you type. When you see the item that you want, stop typing.
Double-click the item to open it.

Adding search filters

Click in the search box, and then click a search filter.
Click one of the available options, or type your own.
The contents of the folder will reflect your selections.
Double-click an item to open it.

For example, click Date modified to select a date range to search, or Type to select a file type to search.

Sources

Microsoft: Find a file or folder
Microsoft: Advanced tips for searching in Windows

Google products for small business

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Chad Warner

Interested in learning about Google’s products for small businesses? Jason Kehrer and I discussed a few of them at the Chamber Tech Lunch on April 21, 2011. About 70 attendees shared their experiences and asked and answered questions, mostly about Google’s tools for online marketing.

Tips for all Google products

Enable SSL security: select always use HTTPS
Save time with keyboard shortcuts

PageRank

Secret algorithm determines your site’s reputation and ranking
Links from other sites to yours
Links from your site to others
Page load time
Relevance, determined by content and keywords

Google AdWords

Geographic targeting
Daily budget
YouTube Video Targeting

Google Analytics

Identify popular content and produce more like it
Identify referring sites and consider advertising on them
Discover mobile platforms visitors use
Link to AdWords

Google Website Optimizer

Increase conversion rates with testing
Test different versions of page
Test variations within page

Google Insights for Search

See search interest over time
See search interest by geographic region

Google Places

List business in Google Maps
Contact info, hours, services, photos, reviews

Google Alerts

Monitor mentions of your name, business, industry, competitors

Google Apps for Business

Google Apps Free: up to 50 users, fewer features
Google Apps Marketplace: accounting, sales, CRM, project management, etc.

Gmail

Use a single inbox: configure forwarding and Send mail as
Use filters for automatic labeling
Gmail Labs
- Signature tweaks
- Undo Send: recall a sent message within a few seconds

Google Calendar

Multiple calendars
Share calendars
Notifications: email or text
Calendar Sync: Sync with Outlook

Google Cloud Connect for Microsoft Office

Share & sync Office 2003-2010

YouTube

Record video tips
Publish on site or blog
Publicize with social media

Google Checkout

Similar to PayPal
Same fee schedule as PayPal: starts at 2.9% + $0.30, down to 1.9% + $0.30
Discounts for AdWords customers

Additional Notes

GoogleBusiness YouTube channel
Use Backupify to back up Google products

This event was sponsored by The Image Group, the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Zeeland Chamber of Commerce.

Careers in Information Technology (IT) and Web Design

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Chad Warner

I talked about careers in Information Technology and Web Design at Career Day at Covenant Christian High School on April 22, 2011. Here’s my presentation, plus a few resources for students interested in these fields.

Hint: click the play button, then click More in the corner of the presentation to switch to fullscreen.

presentation

Information Technology & Web Design Careers on Prezi

resources

magazines
- consumer tech: Maximum PC, PC World
- enterprise IT: InformationWeek, ComputerWorld, eWeek
websites
- enterprise IT: Microsoft TechNet
- consumer tech: Maximum PC, PC World, PC Magazine
- Computer repair: Technibble
- Web design: W3Schools, SitePoint, Smashing Magazine
podcasts and video
- Consumer and enterprise IT: TWiT, Podnutz, CNET
- Web design: SitePoint, Boagworld, 5by5, WordPress.tv, Webmaster Radio
- software and design training: Lynda (free through some libraries)
books
- For Dummies
- O’Reilly

How to charge Lithium-ion batteries

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Chad Warner

How many batteries are within your reach right now? Your phone, iPod, laptop, camera, and Kindle all likely run on lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries. Here’s how to keep those batteries healthy.

Batteries like cool temperatures and exercise. Try to keep batteries below 86°F (30°C). Exercise batteries with frequent charging and discharging (by using the device).

It’s better to partially charge electronics frequently than to fully charge and discharge. Partially discharging Li-ion is fine; they don’t have the same “memory effect” as older battery technologies, and they don’t need full periodic discharge cycles. The only reason to fully discharge and charge a battery is to calibrate the battery gauge, if the device has one.

Don’t leave batteries plugged in constantly, but don’t leave them empty for long periods either. If possible, turn devices off while charging to reduce battery stress. Laptops are a special case. Most laptop chargers will stop charging once the battery is full, and only start charging again when the battery is low. So, it’s generally unnecessary to disconnect a laptop from AC power once it’s charged.

Batteries should be stored in a dark, cool place. If storing for more than a few weeks, charge batteries to 30 – 60% (neither empty nor full). Use batteries once a month to exercise them.

Sources

Fix: Google Calendar widget for iGoogle doesn’t show events

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Chad Warner

More than once, my Google Calendar widget in iGoogle has stopped working. It doesn’t show any events below the calendar; just the text, “Showing events until [date]. Look for more.”

There’s a simple fix: clear your browser cache. To do this in Firefox

Click Tools > Clear Recent History.
For Time range to clear, select Everything.
In Details, check only Cache.
Click Clear Now.
Restart Firefox and open your iGoogle page.

You should now see the Google Calendar widget properly showing events.

If you still have trouble, try these steps:

Right-click the iGoogle page, then click View Page Info.
On the Security tab, click View Cookies.
Click the top cookie, hold Shift, then scroll down and click the last cookie.
Click Remove Cookie. This deletes all cookies in the google.com domain.
Refresh iGoogle. You’ll need to log back in, but your Calendar widget should work now.

Proper posture at a computer desk

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Chad Warner

Proper desk posture. Image from About.com

Computer positioning

Monitor: at arm’s length, with top at eye level
Keyboard: at elbow height; don’t use a wrist rest
Mouse: close to keyboard; move with forearm, not wrist; don’t use a wrist rest

Body positioning

Head: line up ears with shoulders
Shoulders: relaxed, with upper arms hanging normally at your sides
Elbows: close to the body, bent 90 – 120 degrees
Hands, wrists, and forearms: straight, parallel to the floor
Torso: a straight line, head to hips
Knees: same height as hips, bent 90 – 120 degrees
Feet: fully supported by floor or footrest, slightly forward of knees; don’t cross ankles
Back: fully supported when sitting vertical or leaning back slightly; backrest should make contact at lower to mid-back

Taking breaks

Walk around and stretch at least every two hours
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, focus on an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds

References

Details view in Windows Explorer

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Chad Warner

Windows usually shows files in Tiles or Icon view. However, the easiest way to sort files by name or by date is to use the Details view. In this view, the files appear in rows, and there are columns that show each file’s properties, such as Name, Date modified, Type, and Size.

Windows remembers the view that you choose for each folder, so when you change to Details view, Windows will always show that folder in Details view.

Set Details view for a single folder

Windows XP

Open the folder that you want to change to Details view.
Click View, then Details.

Windows 7

Open the folder that you want to change to Details view.
In the top right corner of Windows Explorer, click the arrow next to Change your view button (below the search box).
Click Details.

Set Details view for all folders

I recommend that you use Details view for all your folders. Here’s how to make it your default view for all folders:

Windows XP

Open the folder that you set to Details view.
Click the Tools menu, then Folder Options.
Click the View tab. Click the Apply to All Folders button.

Windows 7

Open the folder that you set to Details view.
In the top left corner of Windows Explorer, click Organize, then Folder and search options.
Click the View tab. Click the Apply to Folders button.

How to use printing preferences in Windows

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Chad Warner

Before you print, check your printing preferences!

Set printing preferences

Printing preferences are settings like duplexing, orientation, color, and print quality. Here’s how to review and change them.

In the program you’re printing from, such as Word, click File > Print.
Near the name of the printer should be a button or link named something like Printer Properties, Properties, or Preferences. This varies from program to program.
The printing preferences window often has several tabs containing several options. The options vary by program and printer.
When you finish changing the preferences, click OK and print your file!

Recommended printing preferences

Print duplex (double-sided) to save paper.
Print grayscale or monochrome (black and white) to save on the cost of color.
Lower the print quality to save ink or toner.

Printing Shortcuts

Some printers allow you to create printing shortcuts. You can save time by saving several options into a single shortcut.

Open the printing preferences window, as described above.
On the Printing Shortcuts tab, click a shortcut to use as your starting point.
Click through the tabs and set options as desired.
On the Printing Shortcuts tab, click Save As. Type a name for the new shortcut.
Click OK.

Your new shortcut will be added to the list, for you to select in the future.

Use Facebook securely with HTTPS

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Chad Warner

Facebook just added an option to secure your connection with HTTPS! This is great news for any security-conscious Facebook users.

Normally, when you use Facebook, anyone on the same network can sniff the network traffic and see what you’re doing. Firesheep made this even easier than it already was. It used to be that you could create a secure (HTTPS) connection to the Facebook login page (https://login.facebook.com/login.php), but once you had logged in, you were returned to a vulnerable, insecure connection (over HTTP).

In Security Now! episode 285: Fuzzy Browsers, Steve Gibson reported that Facebook had added an option to encrypt your entire session, from login to logout. Facebook provides instructions in their blog post A Continued Commitment to Security:

Log into Facebook.
In the top right corner, click Account.
From the dropdown, click Account Settings.
Next to Account Security, click change.
Check the box for Browse Facebook on a secure connection (https) whenever possible.
Click Save.