For free anti-virus protection on a Windows desktop, radio and television personality Leo Laporte recommends AVG. For more of his Windows safety tips, read Must Have Security Apps….[Continue]
Close Multiple IE Windows
To close multiple Internet Explorer windows at once (useful for getting rid of dozens of pop-up windows), click on one of the window tags in the XP taskbar. Then hold down the Cntrl key while clicking on each of the …[Continue]
Active Internet Connections
Netstat is a Windows XP command that lists active Internet connections, such as browsers and instant messengers. To run it, click Start/Run and type “command.” When the command window opens, type “netstat.” TCPView is freeware tool that shows similar information, …[Continue]
Scheduled Tasks
To run periodic programs on your Windows XP machine (such as a virus scan or a backup routine), setup a Scheduled Task. To begin, fire up your Control Panel, and click on Scheduled Tasks. To learn more, read Ask Leo! …[Continue]
Windows Shortcuts
Windows is chock full of keyboard and mouse shortcuts. Learning just a handful of them will save you time, and perhaps even reduce your risk for a repetitive stress injury. My favorites are Cntrl-A (select all), Winkey-D (minimize all open …[Continue]
Alt-F4
Mischievous websites and spyware programs often open program windows that do not include the usual X button to close them. Rather than being tricked into clicking in the program window, Windows users can use Alt-F4 to close the current window. …[Continue]
Word Tips
Having a word processor that thinks it is smarter than you is annoying, which is why I hate it whenever Word “corrects” what I am typing. To turn off “Auto Formatting As You Type” in Microsoft Word (97 or later) …[Continue]
Windows Update
To keep your Windows system safe from viruses such as the Sasser Worm you need to install all the latest Windows security patches. To configure Windows XP or Windows 2000 to automatically download vital updates, click on Start/ Settings/Control Panel/System …[Continue]
