Your personal computer’s main configurations are housed in the Control Panel of Windows. In this tiny part of Windows OS, you may perform some major changes, starting with how your personal computer desktop looks to the way that your PC reacts to the people who utilize it.

But your settings don’t just affect Windows, they also affect the many programs which are set up on the PC (in addition to the fact that most programs may be tweaked even more via their own configurations). We aren’t going to touch on all of them, but we will describe some of the most common ones so that you can get a feel of the control over your computer which these configurations provide you.

Users. Before we get into the individual settings, it’s important that you understand that each set of configurations you make is specific to the users that sit down in front of a personal computer. Changes made to a system by one person will differ from the changes made by another. Enabled by a username and password, individual desktop settings (icons, background picture, and other settings) are available after logging onto Windows.

Display Properties. Through Display Properties, a user can change the background of the Windows Desktop, add a screensaver, change the overall color scheme and fonts of Windows, and adjust a personal computer’s color depth and/or resolution (screen area). Not just a bunch of preference settings, display properties help individuals who have to deal with visual problems.

Accessibility Options. Speaking of visual problems, another setting that’s useful is accessibility options. This setting allows people with disabilities to use a PC that accommodates vision and hearing problems.

Keyboard and Mouse Options. The keyboard and mouse controls give users the option of speeding up or slowing down the movements of both of these peripherals. For those entering the United States from a foreign country, users will appreciate how Windows grants use of keyboard layouts native to their original language. Other uses will appreciate the different selection of cursors and the ability to add additional ones.

Passwords. Since the computer in use may be shared with others, passwords give the almighty administrator the means to determine whether all users will share the same preferences and desktop settings or if users can customize preferences and desktop settings.

Regional Settings. Things get really personal in Regional Settings – as this configuration makes changes according to a user’s location and language. Options available can accommodate a person’s preference for the display of numbers, currency, time, and date format.

Sounds Properties. Multimedia fans can create a rich PC environment filled with sound through this setting. Sounds can be assigned to numerous events and they don’t even need to be the default sounds installed by Windows. Users can download sounds from the Internet or create their own sounds with a microphone.

From just these basic configuration options, you can create your own experience with a computer each time you sit down in front of one. Customizing your PC is what makes using a personal computer truly unique and enjoyable, so have fun and build a situation at home or a work in which you’ll love to work with everyday. Should you feel a little nervous about it at first, remember that can get assistance doing this via online PC support, and your PC’s original configuration can be saved to a backup file should you ever want to restore it to the same state that it was in when you first bought it.

Sincerely,

Robert Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has more than 30 years of career work in IT with personal computers. Starting in his teenage years he has set up and run many profitable firms and non-profit organizations. Get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and learn the most efficient methods to utilize your computer at Online PC Support, or see his Offsite Backups page, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – thank you!

Basically, personal computer errors are the result of various items which may or may not have anything to do with the manner in which the personal computer is used. They occur whenever there is a conflict between instructions. Remember that PCs essentially run from a series of instructions, and this is generally a smooth routine. However, in case one command clashes with a different command – or if one instruction requests a process or information which is not available, the personal computer produces results which aren’t suitable: that’s an error message. The most feared error is the fatal Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) that appears on your screen when something has gone terribly wrong.

A frequent instance of this sort of glitch is when users try to instal a program which isn’t applicable for their PC. Virtually all applications are accompanied by a list of system requirements which spells out what a personal computer needs to possess  for the program to run successfully. To cut down on errors of this sort, you must check that your computer has the needed parts. A project management program that you are investigating might only run on a certain operating system, such as Windows 7 for instance. And even though this software package might install OK on a Windows XP PC, it might produce a multitude of glitches once it is launched.

Not enough RAM can produce errors also. For this reason software applications often specify minimum RAM requirements. A software package which needs 14 megabytes of RAM will cause error messages on a computer that only possesses 4 megabytes of memory available – assuming it will start at all. The same goes for hard disk space, monitor color depth and pixels. In these cases, glitches crop up immediately when a program attempts to access the things (hardware, memory, hard disk space, monitor resolution, etc.) which it cannot get to.

Because certain programs share the same DLLs, error messages may also pop up when these common dynamic link library files aren’t updated. For example, consider that Program A is already set up on a computer and it is running just fine. Next consider that the PC user downloads and installs Program B. Program B uses a DLL which Program A installed much earlier, however, when Program B is run, errors pop up. Those error messages are the result of Program B attempting to use an outdated common DLL which was installed by Program A. So that he can fix that problem, the user would have to download a newer version of the shared DLL (which to say the least – isn’t an easy thing to locate or set up).

Sometimes, error messages pop up because a PC doesn’t have the right drivers or if the drivers which are installed in the system are the incorrect version. Both errors in these cases can be resolved by checking for updates to the computer on a frequent basis. Microsoft provides a section on its servers whcih can automatically update a PC online, and that company does this free of charge in an effort to reduce error messages like this. Always try to keep your PC updated in order that if a program shares a DLL, it will share the same DLL that has been brought up to date on hundreds of thousands of computers similar to yours.

This article doesn’t even begin to describe the entire gamut of personal computer error messages – but more information regarding methods to find assistance with a personal computer issue (including computer error messages) can be read in my essay about “Computer Help” regardless of what the issue is. You may also look up online PC support to help resolve such errors.

Yours truly,

Bob Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has over 30 years of career experience with computers. Starting in his teenage years he has built and headed several companies and charitable entities. Get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and learn the most efficient ways to work with your PC at Online PC Support, or see his Offsite Backups page, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – thanks!

No more are these people destined to just playing shuffleboard or cards with their nearby friends for their relaxation. Nowadays with the help of PCs and the WWW they can play these games and locate online PC support over online connections with people from all over the world. While finding out how to use a computer is still one of the biggest challenges to many in the older generation, when many of them figure out how to use a personal computer, they can’t believe that they had ever worried about it whatsoever.

Some elderly people have voiced nervousness when they begin learning how to use a personal computer and interact with friends over the WWW. They are quite proud when they not only learn how to use a PC, but can manage to even send emails and use other computer programs without any outside help whatsoever.

While some seniors might have had some experience with personal computers in their previous work, many are learning the fundamentals of computer use starting from zero. It’s quite an ordeal at the start for most of these people who find it all a bit overwhelming. This feeling quickly passes, however, as they find out the fundamentals very quickly and can experience some progress after just a few class sessions.

PC use among elderly people has shown to be quite beneficial to them in several aspects. It gets them to become active in life again. While using a PC is not the same thing as doing exercise for the body, using a PC is a very fascinating way for them to give a workout to their most important muscle – their brain. By keeping intellectually stimulated, many elderly people find that they’re not lonely any more and there is much more they are able to do with the aid of a personal computer.

Not only can they use PC programs to assist them to work on some hobbies they might have, but in addition the Internet can assist them to stay in touch with friends who share in the same interest. Staying in contact with relatives and friends by way of email is an additional good way to assist seniors to feel a part of the lives of friends and the world surrounding them. By staying in touch, they discover more meaning in their old age.

Some elderly people even are competent enough with their personal computer use that they can take on part time work doing basic data entry for companies. They can also help in instructing other seniors about the advantages of learning to use a PC and the amazing universe of the WWW. Many seniors may have only heard about the millions of websites out there that contain such a great amount of information that they can easily tap into.

For many seniors it is like turning on a light that shows them what they’ve missed out on all their lives. They begin to be passionate about their exploring for information with personal computers and the Internet. The sense of isolation is lifted right away the very first time they upload and download their first email messages with someone they know. It doesn’t matter if that person is across the world or just across the street, the thrill is the same. Soon they learn how to feel part of the world once more and can participate in more conversations as their knowledge about personal computers and the Internet increases.

Having the ability to reconnect with old acquaintances who they haven’t heard from for years is a very huge accomplishment for these seniors. They also can encourage each other to find out more as they experience together some of the same discoveries while finding out more about PCs and the Internet. This is where online PC support is beneficial. In addition, many in the older generation with hearing difficulties find it much easier to email somebody, or use Skype, Facebook or MySpace to contact them, instead of trying to converse with the friend on the phone.

Those in the older generation who are grandparents find that the Internet is a great way to stay a part of their grandkids’ lives. By sending emails and chatting over everyday happenings, the family grows closer and remains closer as well. By using the Internet, many elderly people have found friends with shared interests. No matter if these interests are hobbies or health matters they have in common, the fun of the ability to chat with someone and have them send a message back to you just about instantly is very fun for these elderly people.

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has over 30 years of career experience with personal computers. Starting in his teens he has built and operated a number of profitable firms and charitable entities. Get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and find out the most efficient ways to work with your computer at Online PC Support, or see his Offsite Backups page, or write him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – see you there!

1. Product websites. When you are having an issue with a software application or with a hardware device, look up the website of the software’s or hardware’s vendor. Most (if not all) manufacturers set aside a part of their website and dedicate it to support the goods that they build. Microsoft’s help desk is an excellent example.

2. Keep in mind help files. It is odd, but folks often don’t remember that every PC itself and every application installed on a PC has its own help file. Also, the operating system of a computer includes a help file, and this really ought to be the starting point to begin for answers. Help files are designed not just to guide in the usage of a personal computer, they are also written to fix problems. Inside a help file, look for a section called, “Troubleshooting” (or something similar) when you need to resolve an issue. This section is reserved for solving problems specific to the software or hardware that you’re using.

3. User groups. User groups perhaps is not the best name for this source, but you can locate websites which are dedicated to supporting the owners of a particular software program or piece of equipment. We call them “user groups” because the people who maintain such websites don’t have any affiliation with the manufacturers which they support! Call them what you will, but this free advice is invaluable and without it, we wouldn’t have many of the excellent solutions and unique problem resolution resources that we have today.

4. Usenet newsgroups. Another underused source on the Internet, Usenet newsgroups have scores and scores of discussion groups focused on some of the most popular computer systems, operating systems, hardware vendors, and various software programs. At times, a few employees of these manufacturers participate, but usually, the assistance in these groups is user-to-user, which is just as valid since you’re dealing with a team of skilled folks.

5. Support Lines. Another source for support that we must not forget are the help lines of different suppliers. You can access these systems by dialing the phone number connected with the product which you’re having trouble with. Calling might be toll-free (1-800 or 1-877 numbers), or they might cost a small fee (1-900).

6. PC support groups or computer clubs are another resource for help. These are clubs that meet in libraries, PC stores, or similar places, which discuss all sorts of issues related with a particular product. Even if you aren’t having a related PC or software difficulty, support groups are exciting to participate in, because they may let you make contacts for similar areas such as job or educational possibilities.

7. Surprisingly, you may even find help from the salespeople at your local PC store. We do not advise that you make this your first resource if you encounter a problem, but we don’t recommend that you should ignore this option totally either. Personal computer salespeople are hired for a reason – and that’s their knowledge. Frequently these kind folks are able to assist you to solve an issue over the phone and keep you from having to buy an expensive repair job.

From this you can tell that help is easy to find – you’ve just got to know where to hunt for it. Most of the people within these resources are extremely friendly and glad to spend time to walk you through an issue at little to no cost. From online user groups, to the help files on your own personal computer, to online PC support, assistance is often just a phone call away.

Sincerely,

Robert Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has more than 30 years of career experience in software development. Beginning in his teenage years he has built and headed a number of profitable firms and non-profit entities. Get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and find out the most efficient techniques to work with your PC at Online PC Support, see his Offsite Backups page, or email him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – see you there!

The most ordinary sorts of issues will appear when your personal computer is down to almost zero resources, and this might either be a low amount of RAM, or low hard drive space. Such situations are quite common, and generally result in your computer running very slow. This can be resolved quite simply, often all you have to do is get rid of some programs and files that you don’t use or need any more, and next, defragment your hard disk.  Other times it may be a virus, and that is when you should have offsite backups installed in advance.

Almost all types of personal computer diagnostic software can pinpoint and fix just about any issue that you may be experiencing.  It normally begins with a BIOS examination, and proceeds from there. Personal computer diagnostic software can pin down a lot from examining the BIOS, from the common settings to those which might cause a severe impact on both the computer’s start up time and its performance.

Regardless, you almost never should modify or mess with the BIOS settings, as it can lead to profound problems. If you do intend to modify or tamper with your personal computer’s BIOS, you should always create a copy of it first, just in case something goes haywire. The BIOS settings can be very complicated, although they are responsible for a lot concerning your PC’s smooth functioning. If you have never been in the BIOS before, you really must not be adjusting or messing with things inside of it.

Depending on the diagnostics software which you’re utilizing, there are several different options to choose from. At present, a couple of the most popular are Norton Systemworks and PC Doctor. Both of these programs offer full diagnostics, good for repairing just about any software-related computer issue you can think of.

When you run the software, you’ll have the ability to select the diagnostic test that you are planning to run. Some provide you a complete system scan, which will scan your entire computer and then tell you any issues that your personal computer is having. After displaying any problems, the program will usually provide you a choice to go ahead and fix it. As long as the problem is not serious, the diagnostic program can generally fix it.

The more difficult issues, for example hardware breakdowns or hard drive crashes, are a totally different thing. They call for a technician who is very experienced, and who can restore the devices. Diagnostic software packages can report a hardware issue to you, although usually they are unable to correct it.

There are several other PC diagnostic software packages that you launch when rebooting the computer, that will check everything, from the BIOS to the operating system to the software applications. These diagnostic tools are great, and some are free, but programs such as Norton and PC Doctor are generally better. They offer far more options, including defragment, inspecting for bad sectors on your hard drive, cleaning cache, and the choice to erase your temporary Internet files. These features are good to have, especially if you aren’t the techie type.

For more than one reason, diagnosing your PC via remote PC repair is the fastest method to find and prevent problems with your PC: you do not need to pack it up and take it anywhere, and you actually watch and learn while the expert diagnoses and fixes it over the Internet.

Also, several companies provide you offsite backup services, and this is the best way to back up your files. You are able to back up your data at a certain set point in time, or simply go ahead and have the software back up your information automatically. These services are very easy to use, even if you are totally new to PCs.

For everything they provide you, offsite backups and PC diagnostic software are the ideal ways to prevent issues before they occur and resolve them afterward.

Sincerely,

Robert Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has over 30 years of career work in software development. Beginning in his teens he has built and headed a number of companies and non-profit organizations. You can get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and find out the most effective ways to work with your computer at Online PC Support, see his Offsite Backups page, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – see you there!

No matter what occurs, you must not freak out or let the situation conquer you.  Even though personal computers are great things to use, and hard drives normally function very well for storing data, they are both mechanical, and are likely to wear out after a certain point in time.  No matter how well-engineered hard disks become, they will never be able to completely avoid crashes or wearing out.

In most instances, your drive may be recovered, which is certainly great news. When your hard disk first crashes or you observe that a portion of your information is missing, you must bring it to a nearby specialist right away.  The specialist can inspect your hard drive, find out and then inform you what the problem is. The inspection process could take anywhere from one day to a couple of weeks, so you should always prepare yourself for anything.

Once the hard drive has been inspected, the specialist should inform you of the choices you have and go over costs for you. At this time, you may decide if you should buy a new hard disk and recover your data from a backup, or go with the specialist’s proposal. Keep in mind that his offer could be very expensive, although at this time it may very possibly be the single alternative available for recovering your information… if you didn’t perform backups.

The smartest way to avoid data recovery completely is to perform a backup of your information and continue backing up regularly.  Businesses and individuals who do their work on PCs must always backup their data at least daily. This way, when your hard drive decides to burn out or you accidentally erase all of your data, you will have the backup files in a safe place. So when you take your hard disk to a specialist to be recovered, you’ll have the information to continue working. In addition, at this time you can decide if you want to have the hard disk recovered, or simply dump it and buy a new one – as you will have all your information backed up and available to use.

In case of data loss or hard disk crash, you should always remain calm and remember that there are options out there to help you recover your information. If you’ve been backing up your files, you won’t need to worry nearly as much. From having the wisdom to create offsite backups of your information in advance, to utilizing information recovery specialists – you’ll have the choices you need to keep your sanity and restore your lost data.

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has accumulated over 30 years of professional experience in IT. Ever since his teenage years he has established and operated several profitable firms and non-profit entities. You can get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and learn the most up-to-date ways to backup your irreplaceable files at offsite backups, see his homepage, or write him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – thank you!

Before you start down that long path of data retrieval, here are some things to remember.  When you’re are using your PC and a program begins to behave strangely, you should shut down the PC immediately.  You might also hear a few strange sounds as well, which is an additional sign that your hard drive is running overtime.  When you shut down your personal computer right away at this stage, you could prevent information loss from occurring. In case, however, you don’t shut down your computer, but allow the failing hard disk to continue running, it’s just a matter of time before the hard drive totally destroys itself – which will ultimately bring about the loss of data.

When this occurs and you have lost all of your information, you must never attempt to fix the hard disk by yourself unless you know exactly what must be done.  At this point, professional data recovery services aren’t just a luxury – they’re a necessity. The process for data recovery is time consuming, and requires both special instruments and a spotless work space. Trying to repair a hard disk on your own is very difficult, and could end up making things much worse if you don’t know exactly what to do.

Although there are programs available for information retrieval, you shouldn’t utilize them unless you know precisely what you are doing.  Since most hard disk errors are very complex, a program can cause more harm than good.  Although businesses may boast that their program will fix the problem and retrieve your data, you should always use caution and just avoid the use of do-it-yourself information recovery software.

Just to be safe with your hard disk and recover the information which you lost, you usually ought to call a reputable local information recovery service. This way, you can rest assured that your hard drive is in good hands and it’ll be repaired correctly. Professional retrieval services can repair almost any hard disk problem, and retrieve every type of data.  In occurs, you must be prepared to buy a replacement hard drive – and count your blessings that you thought to create offsite backups of your data beforehand.

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has over 30 years of career experience in software development. Starting in his teens he has established and run a number of businesses and charitable organizations. You can get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and learn the most up-to-date methods to backup your valuable files at offsite backups, see his homepage, or email him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – see you there!

Fortunately, there is an alternative to commercial programs, and although it is not new, it is one of the most under-utilized sources in the software business. We’re thinking of shareware – software that you can try before you buy. And you can get it over the WWW, just like accessing online PC support.

Shareware has a long history and was rather well-liked during the time where BBSes – bulletin board systems – reigned over the Internet-based software industry. Shareware has not disappeared, but the competition withcommercial software is fierce – so fierce that it seems to get moved to the back burner with novice computer users. This is too bad, since shareware has quite a few advantages over commercial programs.

One of these plusses is its price. On average, shareware is most often much less expensive compared to commercial programs. But don’t misinterpret the cost. With shareware, inexpensive doesn’t mean poor-quality, because there are lots of examples which prove shareware often outshines the quality of commercial software many times. How much savings are we talking about? You can buy a quality word processing, spreadsheet or database program, or a system utility program ranging from only $20 to about $100. This is practically unheard of in stores like Office Depot, Office Max or Egghead, yet the programs offered within this price range compete with even MS Office.

Another advantage that shareware has over commercial software is its suitability. We are not implying that shareware is compatible with all OSes. What we’re implying is that since we may try shareware before you buy it, we can determine first if the program is fully suitable for our systems. In other words, we can discover if the software performs like we require it to, but should anyone attempt to do this with commercial programs, he will be in for a big shock. Commercial software policy doesn’t even permit returns, not to mention “borrowing” them to experiment with them.

The final plus that shareware possesses in comparison with commercial programs (but by no means the least) is its being up-to-date. Plain and simple, shareware comes out far ahead if you want to keep up-to-date with the latest release of a particular program. Certainly, computer stores try hard to keep their stock up-to-date, but if you can download the most recent version 5.7062 of a shareware program compared to buying a commercial 3.0 edition from a nearby computer shop, there is just no comparison.

brings up our next point. Just how does one acquire shareware? It can be found just about everywhere on the Internet and it’s really difficult not to bump into it. The most likely locations to get shareware is at 1000s of download libraries, however, the firms (and even independent developers) behind shareware are increasingly providing shareware from their own websites. A simple search at Google or Bing for a certain kind of software will yield all kinds of results that direct you to things that you are able to try out before you buy.

Be aware, though, that because shareware isn’t commercial programs, you might not find the full-featured program in the manner you would if you had purchased the software out of a box. Shareware might or may not be limited – meaning that some functions might not be accessible to you unless the program is paid for. These limitations are often not large and do not interfere with the way its full version works. They are actually incorporated just as a way to prompt payment. Remember that shareware is not free. You mustn’t try to utilize shareware as a commercial software package without paying for it.

About the only thing that’s comparable between shareware and commercial software is the way in which they can be bought. With a credit card, you could be the next licensee of a new program within minutes. Even if you don’t have a credit card, you will be able to actually receive online PC support, yes, over the Internet!

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has more than 30 years of professional work in IT. Starting in his teenage years he has established and run a number of profitable firms and charitable entities. Get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and find out the most efficient methods to work with your personal computer at online PC support, see his homepage, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – thanks!

The appearance of your computer programs is called the “GUI” (sounds like “gooey”) that means “graphical user interface” The following list defines the correct names for common parts of the GUI so that if you encounter a problem, you can properly define the problem that you’re having, which lets a computer specialist quickly solve it.

User interface – this is the entire visual appearance of the desktop and programs. It can contain pop-ups, rectangles, words, images, and buttons. If you’re encountering a lack of memory, as an example, you may see a black rectangle around the user interface of your programs.

Title bar – means is the very top part of a program that might show the program’s name, or it might define the contents from another portion of the interface. If a program is incorrectly coded, you may see a wrong description in this part of its interface.

Menu bar – this portion of the program displays menu items and menu options. Some of the most common sections on a menu bar provide access to File commands, Open options, Save options, and Close options. An example of an error in this part of the interface would be if an option was gone or grayed out (lighter in color).

Toolbar – this portion across the top of a program shows little icons that indicate tools. If you click an icon it will bring up a tool or run a command which may also be on the program’s menu bar. Problems in this part of an interface are not very common, however, if you find that you are clicking an icon repeatedly and getting no results, you can correctly describe the problem by mentioning the particular icon on the toolbar.

Minimize, Maximize, and Exit buttons – these 3 buttons are found on the upper-right corner of a program’s interface, and these let you minimize a program’s screen, maximize it or restore it to its former position, or totally terminate the program.

Scroll bar – this convenient item permits users to move data up and down the PC screen.

Status bar – this portion of a program is found on the lowest portion of its interface, and it frequently displays small messages which indicate the status of a task. If written incorrectly, an application might show the wrong message in this place.

Input box – an input box is usually a small rectangle that allow you to type information into a simple box in a program, webpage or browser window. If you discover that you can’t type information into one of these, you can more effectively resolve the problem with a tech support person by calling it an input box, rather than a “spot,” a “white rectangle,” or a “place to write something in.”

Context menu – similar to a menu bar, the context menu displays when a user right-clicks on an item. It shows commands like what you see on a File or Help menu.

Button – this useful item performs a command after a user clicks it with a mouse. Problems occur if the writing on a button is grayed out or when it doesn’t appear to be pressed into the screen when clicked.

Check box – a check box is a tiny box that allows a user to indicate several choices among many. When clicked, a little “x” displays in the box.

Radio Button – a radio button is similar to the check box, but permits a user to select only one choice among several. Problems with radio buttons and check boxes occur when the user selects one choice, but the program responds as though the user selected many choices (or none at all).

When describing an issue to a computer specialist, be sure to say whether the problem occurs with a check box or a radio button. Computer novices mistakenly interchange the names of both of these controls. So master the correct terminology, then the tech support person can actually provide you online PC support, yes, even over the WWW!

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has more than 30 years of career experience in software development. Beginning in his teens he has set up and headed a number of businesses and charitable organizations. You can get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and find out the most efficient ways to use your personal computer at online PC support, or email him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – thank you!

As an example, start up Microsoft’s basic editor program, you’d have to type the name of the drive that the program was on, the directory (they called a folder a “directory” back then) where the program was installed, and then the program name. So if Microsoft Edit was in a folder called “Programs” you could run the program by typing “C:>programs/edit.com”. Only then could the program load up so you could use it.

This is just a small command, but simply imagine if you had a program which was deeply nested within a series of folders. You could end up typing a command as wide as your PC’s monitor, or even worse, so long that the entire command would begin to wrap around on the next line! Now imagine that you had to type such long commands each time that you wanted to start a program. Yikes!

That is one of the reasons why batch programs were so popular. Batch programs are small text-based documents with a *.bat extension that contain a bunch of such instructions, each on their own line. When run, they would perform each command so the user wouldn’t have to enter every one of them. Go to our offsite backups link below to learn how to use batch files with the “PersonalBackup” program to retain a month’s worth of versions of your weekly (full) and daily (partial) backups.

After Windows was introduced, the need for entering commands was essentially eradicated, thanks to the introduction of the point-and-click (mouse) interface. However, this didn’t quell the batch program fever which began under PC-DOS – and in a few small circles, batch files are still as well-liked today as they were in the beginning.

Although you may use Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7, batch programs could save you tons of time by automatically starting multiple programs and performing various functions at one click of a mouse. They do not need any heavy-duty background in programming and they do not have to be encrypted with a complicated, costly compiler. Batch programs are simple text files, and you can write one for your personal use in Windows Notepad.

You can make a batch program that starts up your most-used websites all at once, for example, or you could build a batch file that fills your desktop with the most important applications for each day. Doing so only requires a little knowledge about the locations of these applications.

Let us say that every day we need to start up the Yahoo web browser, then launch Microsoft Word, and then start up the calculator that is included with Windows. Rather than doing this manually, we can make a batch program to do it automatically.

First, we’d start up Notepad and enter these lines:

START “http://www.yahoo.com”
START “c:/program files/microsoft office/office/winword.exe”
START “c:/windows/calc.exe”

We would then save these data into a file named “mytasks.bat” onto our Desktop for ease of access. Each time we double-clicked on this file, the Yahoo website would start up, Microsoft Word would run, and the simple calculator would appear.

Since we want these programs to run every day, we can create a shortcut to this batch file and then place the shortcut to our computer’s Startup directory. That way, these three programs will start each time we turn on the personal computer. If you wanted these programs to load minimized, you can type the following into a batch program instead:

START “http://www.yahoo.com” /m
START “c:/program files/microsoft office/office/winword.exe” /m
START “c:/windows/calc.exe” /m

This will start all three programs as previously, but the “/m” characters would minimize them in order that they wouldn’t clutter up your Desktop.

Other people have found much more creative and effective ways to utilize batch files, however, the essential thing is that you are aware that they are a resource you may utilize to save several seconds or minutes in carrying out important jobs. Also, check out our offsite backups link on how to automate your backups with the free “PersonalBackup” application.

We’ve progressed a long way from PC-DOS, but batch programs remain a valuable tool for automation that everyone may utilize with no heavy-duty programming skills whatsoever.

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has more than 30 years of career work in software development. Starting in his teenage years he has set up and headed several profitable firms and non-profit organizations. Download his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and find out the most up-to-date ways to save your valuable files at offsite backups, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – thanks!