I think it only fair that I further introduce myself for some of you don't know that much about me, where I'm coming from with the PC Tips, and how I hope this develops. Some have asked what my charge is for doing this. There is not a charge in monetary terms. If you find these tips to be helpful, please feel free to pass them along to others, knowing that in doing so you've helped not only the ones you send them to, but have thanked me in the process, and have a nice feeling for yourselves as well in assisting others. Others may ask, so what's the catch? There is none - only taking the time to read and try the items presented. I'm not running for any office so I won't be back asking for your vote nor will I accept any monetary compensation for this service. In my life I've found that I receive great pleasure in assisting others whether it be through teaching, pointing them to another person that may be able to assist them or placing materials on-line that may be viewed at one's leisure that may assist them in their research. I've done the latter two now for the last 7 1/2 years. A sample of the web pages I've done, do or am working on - http://www.rootsweb.com/~gacoweta/sites/ Prior to that I taught fellow co-workers, for 10 years in a corporate setting in Atlanta, how to go from a paper environment of records keeping to a computerized one - solving problems, teaching new persons who had never seen the paper version of the work, to do the same work. Since coming to where I now live, having been caught in the company down sizing in 1989, I went back to school for a 2 year associate's degree in computer programming. While I did use that degree to some extent since graduation, my skills lie more in the analytical area of computers, in other words figuring out problems. To that end for the last 9 years I've worked at a private boys college prep school, grades 6-12, running the help desk. This entails working directly keeping 450 computers, associated printers, audio/visual items up and running and serving the needs of 1100 users. During that time I've acquired a fairly good scope of PC Tips which I'd like to share with you good folks. I'm constantly reading and learning. The tips/lessons I give will be things I've tried, know that they work, are free or mostly free. If items are not free - I'll indicate it as such. Back in September of last year, I did a test mailing to a list I host for genealogical researchers with ties to central New York state. I asked if folks might benefit from a few simple tips to keep their PCs in tip top shape - at the best possible price - free. I've been asked by several if this would cover Apple computers or Web TV. Since Web TV has no hard drive associated with it and the fact that I have near zero knowledge of that system, I don't know if any of these tips will help folks who have such a system to access the Internet. While I have used Macs and do have a few ideas on helping them as well, since they are nearly perfect as it is...this will be geared mostly to Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP users since all these editions of Windows have several characteristics in common. However, since there are programs that both Apples and PCs run, some tips will apply to both. In giving my instructions, I'll try to write in clear enough language so that my Father, 79, who has had nearly zero computer time could understand and/or follow my directions. Since you are all obviously on the Internet to receive this message, I'm going to start with some basic assumptions, which I believe to be mostly true - that each of you know some of the basic commands of getting around on your computer, know what is meant when I speak of the desktop (the screen with the icons on it). In thinking this afternoon about this, since some have asked about Apples, I'll try to put a little blurb that will up front let you know if this applies to Apple or Windows or both. If you have questions about the tips / lessons please feel free to write me inquiring about them, please include the Tips Lesson number you are referencing, which will assist me in sorting the mail by lesson feedback. If you have questions not contained in the first few tips, please send them to me, which I will either answer directly to you or via another tips letter if it appears to be a general interest item. I do not claim to have every answer that concerns the inner workings of PCs or their software for each week in my job I find new challenges, things I've never seen before. Now on to the tips/lessons. Tim