Have you ever wished you could make something disappear? Well, we might not have figured out how to make physical objects disappear yet, but we can make files disappear. There are many reasons why you might want to do this. Perhaps you are working with confidential data and want an extra layer of security. Maybe you are purchasing a gift for a spouse and don't want his or her eyes to come across the information. Whatever reason you might have for wanting to hide a file or even an entire folder, Windows makes it easy to do it.
To hide the file or folder, simply right-click on it and select properties. Towards the bottom of the Properties window will be a check-box that says Hidden. Check the box to mark the file to be hidden.
However, Windows has a setting that will either show or hide all files marked as hidden. This is also how you will find the hidden file when you need to access it again. The easiest way to find this setting is to go to the Search box and type in Folder Options. On the View tab, under Advanced Settings, you will find the option to either show or hide all hidden files and folders. In Windows 8, this option also appears on the View ribbon of File Explorer. You also have the option to make files and folders as hidden directly from this ribbon.
Even if you are never planning on hiding files yourself, it is important to know about this feature, especially if you have kids. It might be wise to check your kids' computers with hidden files shown to see if they have anything they think you can't see.
Showing posts with label Windows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2014
Friday, August 1, 2014
Will Windows 7 Be Unsupported?
I received the following question in my email yesterday:
There are many reasons for ending support for a product. One of the biggest reasons is the time it takes to train employees to support the program. We all want support staff to be knowledgeable about the company's products, but it will take more training time (and therefore, more money) to keep training staff on older products. For operating systems, internet browsers, and other software that has to be kept secure, it also costs money to develop patches for security problems found in the software.
While it can be frustrating to give up a product we like before we are ready, it is something we have to accept. Technology advanced quite substantially in the twelve-year support life of Windows XP. When XP was released, we were still three years away from the release of the first Blackberry, five years away from the release of the first iPhone and Android phone, and eight years away from the release of the first commercially-successful tablets.
For each version of Windows, Microsoft actually has two different end-of-support dates. The first, mainstream support, ends at the later of five years after the product is released or two years after it successor is released. The end of mainstream support means that Microsoft will no longer provide free technical support and new features, along with a few other items. For most users, the end of mainstream support is nothing to be concerned about.
The second, extended support, is what recently ended for Windows XP. Extended support for Microsoft's products ends at the later of five years after the product is released or two years after the second successor is released. (For Windows 7, this would mean two years after the release of Windows 9.) After the end-of-support date, Microsoft is no longer required to provide security patches to fix problems discovered. With XP, it did fix one additional problem discovered about a week after support ended, but it has released no other patches.
According to Microsoft's website, the current end-of-support dates (for extended support) are as follows:
Windows Vista: April 11, 2017
Windows 7: January 14, 2020
Windows 8: January 10, 2023
However, these dates (especially for Windows 7 and 8) are likely to change since successor products have not been released. Furthermore, with XP, Microsoft originally scheduled an end-of-support date for sometime in 2011 or 2012 (I do not remember the exact date), but it later extended it to 2014 due to the number of computers still running XP. If Windows 9 does not offer a substantial improvement over Windows 8 and companies and individuals keep holding onto Windows 7, it is likely that Microsoft will extend support for Windows 7 even longer.
I know Windows XP was no longer supported earlier this year. Is there a date when Windows 7 (my version) will no longer be supported either? How will I know?Every software product produced will eventually have a date when it is no longer supported, regardless of who produced it. Companies generally provide information about their support lifecycles on their websites, and it is sometimes also included in the printed documentation you received with your software.
There are many reasons for ending support for a product. One of the biggest reasons is the time it takes to train employees to support the program. We all want support staff to be knowledgeable about the company's products, but it will take more training time (and therefore, more money) to keep training staff on older products. For operating systems, internet browsers, and other software that has to be kept secure, it also costs money to develop patches for security problems found in the software.
While it can be frustrating to give up a product we like before we are ready, it is something we have to accept. Technology advanced quite substantially in the twelve-year support life of Windows XP. When XP was released, we were still three years away from the release of the first Blackberry, five years away from the release of the first iPhone and Android phone, and eight years away from the release of the first commercially-successful tablets.
For each version of Windows, Microsoft actually has two different end-of-support dates. The first, mainstream support, ends at the later of five years after the product is released or two years after it successor is released. The end of mainstream support means that Microsoft will no longer provide free technical support and new features, along with a few other items. For most users, the end of mainstream support is nothing to be concerned about.
The second, extended support, is what recently ended for Windows XP. Extended support for Microsoft's products ends at the later of five years after the product is released or two years after the second successor is released. (For Windows 7, this would mean two years after the release of Windows 9.) After the end-of-support date, Microsoft is no longer required to provide security patches to fix problems discovered. With XP, it did fix one additional problem discovered about a week after support ended, but it has released no other patches.
According to Microsoft's website, the current end-of-support dates (for extended support) are as follows:
Windows Vista: April 11, 2017
Windows 7: January 14, 2020
Windows 8: January 10, 2023
However, these dates (especially for Windows 7 and 8) are likely to change since successor products have not been released. Furthermore, with XP, Microsoft originally scheduled an end-of-support date for sometime in 2011 or 2012 (I do not remember the exact date), but it later extended it to 2014 due to the number of computers still running XP. If Windows 9 does not offer a substantial improvement over Windows 8 and companies and individuals keep holding onto Windows 7, it is likely that Microsoft will extend support for Windows 7 even longer.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Learn to Use Windows and Office
Upgrading new software can sometimes be a complicated process. Recently, when I upgraded the financial management software for my business to the latest version, I ran into problems opening my files in the software. After several phone calls to their technical support team, we finally isolated the problem and were able to solve it. However, even if the new software runs perfectly, locating the features you want can be a problem.
When Microsoft released Office 2007, it came with a completely different look from earlier versions. The toolbars that graced the top of your screen were now replaced with ribbons. When I first upgraded from Office 2003 to Office 2010 (I skipped the 2007 version), I had trouble finding all the features I wanted. However, after using it for almost two years now, I now know exactly where the features I use the most are located.
The same problem happened when Microsoft released Windows 8. Microsoft made so many changes to Windows that it became more difficult to find the features you need. One of the biggest complaints I hear about Windows 8 is that it has become more difficult to accomplish the same tasks. While I actually like Windows 8 overall (especially since the Windows 8.1 upgrade was released), I can understand the frustrations of others.
Fortunately, Microsoft has released guides to help learn its new software. Below, I have linked to guides to Office 2013, Windows 7, and Windows 8. While Microsoft has only released its guides for Office 2013, many of the features will work on Office 2007 and 2010. The Office guides are in PDF format. The Windows guides are web-based, but the Windows 7 offers a PDF option in addition to the videos.
Office 2013
Windows 7
Windows 8
When Microsoft released Office 2007, it came with a completely different look from earlier versions. The toolbars that graced the top of your screen were now replaced with ribbons. When I first upgraded from Office 2003 to Office 2010 (I skipped the 2007 version), I had trouble finding all the features I wanted. However, after using it for almost two years now, I now know exactly where the features I use the most are located.
The same problem happened when Microsoft released Windows 8. Microsoft made so many changes to Windows that it became more difficult to find the features you need. One of the biggest complaints I hear about Windows 8 is that it has become more difficult to accomplish the same tasks. While I actually like Windows 8 overall (especially since the Windows 8.1 upgrade was released), I can understand the frustrations of others.
Fortunately, Microsoft has released guides to help learn its new software. Below, I have linked to guides to Office 2013, Windows 7, and Windows 8. While Microsoft has only released its guides for Office 2013, many of the features will work on Office 2007 and 2010. The Office guides are in PDF format. The Windows guides are web-based, but the Windows 7 offers a PDF option in addition to the videos.
Office 2013
Windows 7
Windows 8
Monday, July 21, 2014
Use Print Screen to Show a Problem
One of the biggest problems with providing computer support over the phone is that I cannot actually see what is happening on the computer. While there are tools that will allow me to see and work on a customer's computer from my own computer, some people are concerned about the security of these programs.
However, there are occasions when simply reading the text of an error message is not enough for me to be able to figure out the problem. The window containing the error message will sometimes have small clues that can assist with troubleshooting the problem, but without seeing the window, I will not be able to easily pick up on these clues. Other times, I may be lost while trying to help someone over the phone, and I may want to see what is on the screen to help me get back on track.
It is in these situations where I use today's tip. If I need to see what is on a screen that I cannot see, I simply tell the person to use Ctrl + Print Screen. (Print screen is usually located above the Insert and Delete keys to the right of the standard keyboard. On a laptop keyboard, you may have to look carefully for the correct key.) The Ctrl + Print Screen command will take a snapshot of your entire screen and place it on the clipboard. You can then paste it into a Word document or into the Paint program to save and email as an attachment. If you only want to take a snapshot of the current window instead of the entire screen, you can use Alt + Print Screen, and then paste it into a Word document or Paint file. In Windows 8, using the Windows key + Print Screen will save the file automatically in your pictures folder.
This tool can be useful to someone who is not a computer tech for many reasons. If you are having a problem with a particular program, providing an exact copy of the error message when asking for support can speed up the support process. It also helps to show what happens if you run into problems following the instructions. If you are trying to help someone learn how to accomplish something, you can take pictures of your screen at each step, and you can even circle buttons or draw arrows to links over top of the picture to stress what they need to do.
There are many more reasons why you might want to take a picture of your screen. I have simply tried to highlight a few of the most common reasons here. As a final note, if you forget this command or if the operating system will not load (meaning the Print Screen feature won't work), you can always pull out a cell phone or tablet and take a picture of your monitor.
However, there are occasions when simply reading the text of an error message is not enough for me to be able to figure out the problem. The window containing the error message will sometimes have small clues that can assist with troubleshooting the problem, but without seeing the window, I will not be able to easily pick up on these clues. Other times, I may be lost while trying to help someone over the phone, and I may want to see what is on the screen to help me get back on track.
It is in these situations where I use today's tip. If I need to see what is on a screen that I cannot see, I simply tell the person to use Ctrl + Print Screen. (Print screen is usually located above the Insert and Delete keys to the right of the standard keyboard. On a laptop keyboard, you may have to look carefully for the correct key.) The Ctrl + Print Screen command will take a snapshot of your entire screen and place it on the clipboard. You can then paste it into a Word document or into the Paint program to save and email as an attachment. If you only want to take a snapshot of the current window instead of the entire screen, you can use Alt + Print Screen, and then paste it into a Word document or Paint file. In Windows 8, using the Windows key + Print Screen will save the file automatically in your pictures folder.
This tool can be useful to someone who is not a computer tech for many reasons. If you are having a problem with a particular program, providing an exact copy of the error message when asking for support can speed up the support process. It also helps to show what happens if you run into problems following the instructions. If you are trying to help someone learn how to accomplish something, you can take pictures of your screen at each step, and you can even circle buttons or draw arrows to links over top of the picture to stress what they need to do.
There are many more reasons why you might want to take a picture of your screen. I have simply tried to highlight a few of the most common reasons here. As a final note, if you forget this command or if the operating system will not load (meaning the Print Screen feature won't work), you can always pull out a cell phone or tablet and take a picture of your monitor.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Making Use of the Aero Interface
If you have Windows 7 or 8, you have the Aero interface built in to your desktop, unless you have disabled it. (Vista also has a version of the Aero interface, but the features of this tip do not work.) The Aero interface contains several very useful features that you might want to try out and use on a regular basis. Here are four of the most useful uses:
1) Areo Peek - When you have a window open, hover your mouse over the taskbar icon to see a thumbnail of the window. This is useful if you have multiple windows open for the same program, and you want to see which window you are maximizing before you open it.
2) Aero Snap - Aero snap is perhaps the most useful tool in Windows 7 (at least for me). This allows you to "snap" a window to your monitor. There are two different ways to snap. First, you can drag the window to the very top of your monitor. Before you release the mouse, you will see a small circle that expands to fill the screen. After you see the circle, you can release the mouse, and the window you are dragging will instantly fill the screen.
You can also snap to the right or left side of your screen. This will cause the current window to fill only the half of the screen you are snapping it to. This is very useful when you have two windows you want to use simultaneously.
3) Aero Shake - By grabbing the title bar of a window and quickly shaking it back and forth, you can quickly minimize all other windows. Shaking the window again will restore all the windows you minimized.
4) View Desktop - On the far right side of the taskbar (just to the right of the clock), there is a small button. (The button usually blends in with the clock until you hover your mouse over it.) Clicking on this button will minimize all windows and show you the desktop. Clicking it again will restore all windows. In Windows 7, you can hover over the button and have all windows disappear until you move the mouse again.
1) Areo Peek - When you have a window open, hover your mouse over the taskbar icon to see a thumbnail of the window. This is useful if you have multiple windows open for the same program, and you want to see which window you are maximizing before you open it.
2) Aero Snap - Aero snap is perhaps the most useful tool in Windows 7 (at least for me). This allows you to "snap" a window to your monitor. There are two different ways to snap. First, you can drag the window to the very top of your monitor. Before you release the mouse, you will see a small circle that expands to fill the screen. After you see the circle, you can release the mouse, and the window you are dragging will instantly fill the screen.
You can also snap to the right or left side of your screen. This will cause the current window to fill only the half of the screen you are snapping it to. This is very useful when you have two windows you want to use simultaneously.
3) Aero Shake - By grabbing the title bar of a window and quickly shaking it back and forth, you can quickly minimize all other windows. Shaking the window again will restore all the windows you minimized.
4) View Desktop - On the far right side of the taskbar (just to the right of the clock), there is a small button. (The button usually blends in with the clock until you hover your mouse over it.) Clicking on this button will minimize all windows and show you the desktop. Clicking it again will restore all windows. In Windows 7, you can hover over the button and have all windows disappear until you move the mouse again.
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