Abby Stokes
Page 30
A SAVING PLAN
Go back to Chapter 18 to review how to copy or burn files and folders onto a CD or DVD for safekeeping.
A Little TLC Goes a Long Way
Keep your computer free of dust, animal hair, and far away from liquids. I mentioned this back in Chapter 5, but it warrants repeating. The computer will also benefit from some routine maintenance.
PCs and Apple computers differ in what regular maintenance you should provide. If you have a PC, read on. If you have a Mac/Apple, you can skip the disk cleanup and defrag section because Macs do this automatically.
Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup is a tool built in to the computer to help the computer remain as lean and smooth-running as possible. When activated, Disk Cleanup sweeps your computer to find unnecessary files it can safely delete to free up space on your hard drive. Rest assured the Disk Cleanup would not suggest deleting any files you added to the computer. Primarily it finds temporary Internet files and the like. The frequency that one should perform Disk Cleanup is directly related to the amount of computer use, not the calendar.
• The steps to take to perform a Disk Cleanup on your PC computer.
CLICK AND GO
1. Click Start.
2. Click All Programs.
3. Click Accessories.
4. Click System Tools.
5. Click Disk Cleanup.
6. Click to remove any checks for files you do want to keep.
7. Click OK.
However, because that’s hard to judge, you could perform a disk cleanup between once a month and once every three months. (I’ll bet you a new ream of paper that most people you ask may do it once a year, but most have never done it at all!)
Here are the steps to clean up your PC computer:
• Close all programs that are open.
• Click on Start .
• Click on All Programs.
• Click on Accessories.
• Click on System Tools.
• Click on Disk Cleanup. Wait while it evaluates your computer.
• A window opens indicating what files the computer proposes to be deleted with a check mark. If there are any files you do not wanted deleted, click in the box with the check to remove the check.
• Click on OK.
Defrag
Every time you open or close a program, bits of the data used in the program move from their place of origin to another location in the computer. This is called fragmenting. When fragmenting occurs, it slows down the process of the computer because now the computer has to search for all the fragments scattered hither and yon on the computer. To return these bits of data to where they belong, the computer must be defragmented. Why not defrag your computer every time you perform a Disk Cleanup? Choose your computer housecleaning day to be something you can remember… perhaps the first of the month or when you pay your quarterly taxes.
• The steps to take to defrag your PC computer.
CLICK AND GO
1. Click Start.
2. Click All Programs.
3. Click Accessories.
4. Click System Tools.
5. Click Disk Defragmenter.
Here are the steps to defrag your PC computer:
• Close all programs that are open.
• Click on Start .
• Click on All Programs.
• Click on Accessories.
• Click on System Tools.
• Click on Disk Defragmenter.
• Click on Analyze. If the analysis says you don’t need to defrag, close both windows. Otherwise, click Defragment and wait… this could take minutes or hours.
• Eventually, it will notify you that the defragging is complete and you can close all windows.
Updates
If you have a PC, the Microsoft operating system regularly offers updates. These updates are fixes or patches from Microsoft to make your computer run more smoothly. It’s a good idea to allow these updates to occur.
• System and Security on Windows 7.
• Windows Update on Windows.
To instruct the computer to do just that, follow these steps:
CLICK AND GO
1. Click .
2. Click Software Update.
3. Click install (not shown).
• Click on Start.
• Click on Control Panel.
• Click on System and Security.
• Click on Windows Updates.
• From here you can check for updates and schedule when the updates will be downloaded and installed.
Apple also offers updates, but you access them differently.
• Click on the Apple in the top left of the screen.
• Click on Software Update.
• The Software Update program will evaluate what is on your computer. If it determines there are updates available, click Install to download and install what is suggested for your computer.
Remember, if you take care of your computer, it will take care of you.
With both PCs and Apples, be cautious, if when on the Internet, you are offered to update software on your computer. How does the website know what’s on your computer or what you need? Resist the temptation to download anything unless you know what it is and that you want it.
* * *
Q: I can’t seem to locate documents that I’ve written. How can I find them?
A: If you have a PC, you can click on Start and then click on Search. Follow the instructions on where to type all or part of the name of what you’re looking for. A window will eventually open with a list of items containing the keywords you typed. Take note of the Folder column that tells you the location of the item. If you have a Mac, click on the Desktop, then click File, and finally click Find. Type in what you’re looking for. The window that opens will indicate the location of the file at the bottom of the window. To prevent losing a document or file, always make a conscious decision about where it should live during the File, Save As stage.
Q: I’ve decided I don’t want a folder to be inside another folder. How do I get the one folder onto the Desktop?
A: It’s as easy as click and drag. Just click and drag the desired folder out of its present home onto the desktop and release the mouse.
Q: Somehow when I click and drag, the document never goes inside the folder. What am I doing wrong?
A: It’s all about the aim. Use a steady hand and don’t release the mouse until the target (the folder) is highlighted. Then, without moving the mouse, release your finger. You can also open the target folder and drag the document into the folder rather than onto the icon.
Q: I’ve tried a few times to rename a document, but the computer keeps refusing the name.
A: Be sure there’s no punctuation in the name. Instead of punctuation, use spaces to divide up characters in a file or folder name.
Q: If I buy a new computer, how do I get all my files from one to the other?
A: After you’ve backed up your documents, photos, and files onto a CD or a DVD, you can then take that CD or DVD and copy all the information from the old computer into the new one. There is also a device that is perfect for moving information from one computer to another—a USB flash drive (aka a thumb drive or a memory stick).
• A USB flash drive.
EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY
CHAPTER 21
Detective Work with Your Computer
Get the most out of your searches
A milestone was reached in October 2006. That month marked the existence of 100 million websites on the Internet. As of mid-year 2011 there were over 350 million websites. I think this thing called the Internet is starting to catch on!
There’s no denying the wealth of information on the net to be researched and enjoyed. The conundrum is how to navigate, sift, and discern what is available in relationship to what you want to find. You’ll find this is a process of trial and error that will improve with practice. Searching the Internet requires a sense of adventure, cur
iosity, and a positive attitude. Say to yourself, “I think I can. I think I can.” And you know what? You can!
Search and Recover
On page 180, I introduced the concept of search engines. To refresh your memory, if you walk into the hallowed halls of your local library in search of information on heart disease, you would head straight for the “card catalog,” which may now be found on a computer, or to the informative person behind the desk. You would use these resources to locate books and periodicals relating to heart disease. Search engines on the Internet work basically the same way. You access a search engine and type keywords pertaining to your query, and the search engine finds websites that contain those keywords. Instead of a few books on the subject, you’ll likely have hundreds, if not thousands, of websites with all their information at your fingertips in your own home.
GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT
Search engines aren’t the only way to find a website. Word of mouth, advertising, and sometimes guessing may get you to a website that meets your needs. For example, you love to shop at Brooks Brothers. Hmmm… what could their web address be? You got it: brooksbrothers.com.
If you haven’t taken a glance at the recommended websites on page 416, do so when you have a chance. Among the various categories are eight search engines for you to try. Of course, new ones can pop up at any time, and if they’re really good, you’ll hear about them. Even before you picked up this book, I bet you’d heard of Google. You may not have known what it was, but the buzz had probably gotten to you.
• Do not confuse the text area of a search engine with the website address box.
We’ll use google.com, bing.com, and yahoo.com for our searching adventures. You can see from the windows below that although each search engine performs the same basic task, they are designed differently. Yahoo! offers many additional resources above and beyond searching on its home page. At the time of this writing, Bing and Google’s home pages look very lean and at first glance appear only to offer searches. But in fact, both offer much more than just search results. Besides searching, you can find maps, blogs, news, and more if you click on the items above where you type in your search.
SHORTCUT
Can I let you in on a secret? With newer computers and software, you don’t need to type “www.” before all website addresses. I instructed you to type www. at the start of your Internet journey to form good habits, but in truth many, maybe most, websites open without the w’s.
Choose Your Words Carefully
In all three sites, the procedure is to click your mouse inside the long text box to activate it. You’ll know the site is ready for you to type when the blinking line (the cursor) appears. Simply type the keywords that succinctly describe what you’re looking for, and then click on Search. Before you type your first search, let’s discuss the keywords to best find what you seek. Let’s say you love visiting botanical gardens. You’re thinking of organizing a vacation around the locations of botanical gardens. You might begin your search with the keywords botanical garden.
• Search results for botanical garden.
Here are the numbers of websites I found searching for botanical garden:
Yahoo! = 19,400,000
Bing = 19,900,000
Google = 23,300,000
EXCLUDE IT!
If there is a word you want eliminated from your search, add that word to the end of your search preceded immediately by the – (minus) symbol. For example, you want to find a website with information on hurricanes excluding information about hurricanes on the island of Bermuda. Type: hurricane– Bermuda. This search will render all websites that contain the word hurricane, excluding those containing Bermuda.
Why would one search engine’s results vary in number so dramatically from another? Relatively speaking, a difference of one hundred thousand isn’t so great when you take into account there are almost 400 million websites out there. The seeming discrepancy is because each search engine has its own system and resources for performing a search. That is precisely why you may want to try more than one search engine to cover your bases when seeking information.
Choose specific words to best describe what you seek. For example:
• Type Italian Renaissance Art instead of antique paintings.
• Try Top 10 laptops instead of computers.
To search for an exact phrase, type quotation marks to frame two or more words. You can have a combination of phrases and individual words. For example, free “new york city” “ice skating rink.”
Are You on the Internet?
Out of curiosity you might check and see if there’s information about you on the Internet. No matter how certain you may be that a search for you will come up dry, you might be in for a surprise. You could appear on a website because of the political contribution made during the last presidential race or the random interview with the San Francisco Chronicle about busing. Try a search with your name and see what you can find. While you’re at it, click on the word Images, and next click Search Images. If you or someone else with your name has any photos on the Internet you can see them! Remember to click on Web to get you back to your text results.
Here’s something to take into consideration when formulating your search. My full name is Abigail Pemberton Stokes. (Please don’t make fun of my middle name. Thank you!) I wouldn’t search for my formal name because no one ever refers to me by that name, so it’s unlikely I would be found by that name online. Even being addressed as Abigail is a rarity for me, unless my mother’s mad at me. You may want to try a couple of different versions of your name and nickname and see what you discover.
* * *
“When I first found myself on the Internet I didn’t like it at all. It felt like an invasion of privacy. However, now I realize that the Internet offers information that is already public.”
—Ronald
* * *
Every Letter Counts
Every letter you choose matters. Try a search for hanger in the singular. Now try a search for hangers with an s. The difference in the number of results is significant as a result of one little letter. Interesting, right? Instead of keywords, you can also type your search in sentence form. Experiment with both. Type: what is an eclipse. No need for the question mark, and you can play around with whether the quotes help or hurt your results. Now try only eclipse.
Don’t settle for the first set of results. Try different search engines using different keywords or phrases. With practice, you’ll improve at zeroing in on your searches.
SEPARATE YOUR WORDS
Search engines are not case sensitive. You do not need to use capital letters. But unlike a website, you do need to separate each word with a space.
Consult Your Results
Okay. Let’s try a search together.
Using either Google, Yahoo!, or Bing, type:
free rice
You’ll see different results with each search engine, but in all cases the results will be displayed in the same way.
In most search engines, the top line of each search result is usually blue and underlined. Remember, websites are usually designed so that the links, where you click, stand out from other text. Often links are featured in blue and underlined, but not always. Each website is at liberty to make a link noticeable in any way they choose.
• Yahoo search results for free rice.
Move your mouse over the top line, and you’ll notice the mouse arrow has changed to a hand—positive confirmation that if you click there, you’ll be taken to more information on the subject. This is the link to the search result.
KEEP AN OPEN MIND
If any of these screen images look different than what’s on your computer, don’t fret. Websites are updated and redesigned regularly. Look carefully at your computer screen and you’ll soon find the same elements referred to here. Remember to scroll!
Below the link, in black text, is a short summary of the contents of the site pertaining to the keywords in your search.<
br />
The bottom line in green is the actual website address. It’s important to look at that address because it may be a deciding factor for which link you choose to check out. If one result has a recognizable website (e.g., foodnetwork.com) vs. an unknown entity, I’ll go with the familiar website.
Our search for free rice has brought us literally millions of websites (look at the results number at the top right of the page). Each search engine shows us those results ten to a page. Generally, the order of search engine results is based on a set of rules and an algorithm that takes into consideration the number of terms matched and their relevancy. At the bottom of each page you can click Next or the following page number to see the next set of results. Of the websites that fit your criteria, generally most will appear early in the list. I rarely view more than the first three or four pages of results before I restructure my search or have found what I need.