DICKSON

WhatsApp. Wonderful, wonderful, WhatsApp. The messaging service that made BBM look boring and text messages redundant. Of course there are now heaps of messaging services around, but WhatsApp has had a massive head start on almost all of them, meaning it has tonnes of features. You can read all about what it is and how it works in our  WhatsApp feature , but for those who already know the beauty of the service, here are some secret tips you might not know about. Hide the blue ticks Those blue ticks can get you in a whole world of trouble, especially when you don't reply instantly and someone sees you have read their messages. You can turn them off, but it's worth noting that if you do, you won't get read receipts for your messages either. iOS:  Settings > Account > Privacy > Toggle off Read Receipts. Android:  Settings > Account > Privacy > Untick Read Receipts. Turn words bold, italic or strikethrough Sometimes certain words need more empha...

I can’t open email attachments If you have ever encountered an attachment that you couldn’t open, it was probably because you didn’t have the software necessary to view the file.  If you don’t have Adobe Reader or another PDF-compatible program, you won’t be able to open that TPS report.  The usual suspect is the .pdf file, for which you can download a free PDF reader. If your problem involves a different file format, a quick search on the attachment’s file extension (the three letters after the period in the filename) should tell you what type of program you need. If the attachment lacks a file extension (which might happen if it was renamed), adding it back should set things right.

What are the differences between hardware and software? Computer hardware is any physical device used in or with your machine, whereas software is a collection of code installed onto your computer's hard drive; it is intangible. For example, the computer monitor you are using to read this text and the mouse you are using to navigate this web page is computer hardware. The Internet browser that allowed you to visit this page and the operating system that the browser is running on is considered software.  Nearly all software utilizes hardware to operate properly. A video game, which is software, uses the computer processor (CPU), memory (RAM), and video card, all of which is hardware, to run. Word processing software uses the computer processor, memory, and hard drive to create and save documents.  In a computer, hardware is what makes a computer work. A CPU processes information and that information can be stored in RAM or on a hard drive. A sound card can provide sound to s...

Keyboard shortcuts (Windows) 2 Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts CTRL+Tab (Move forward through the tabs) CTRL+Shift+Tab (Move backward through the tabs) Tab (Move forward through the options) Shift+Tab (Move backward through the options) Alt+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option) Enter (Perform the command for the active option or button) Spacebar (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box) Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons) F1 key (Display Help) F4 key (Display the items in the active list) Backspace (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)

An application is running slowly Solution 1: Close and reopen the application. Solution 2: Update the application. To do this, click the Help menu and look for an option to check for Updates. If you don't find this option, another idea is to run an online search for application updates.  Method 2 Solution 1: Run your virus scanner. You may have malware running in the background that is slowing things down. Solution 2: Your computer may be running out of hard drive space. Try deleting any files or programs you don't need. Solution 3: If you're using a PC, you can run Disk Defragmenter (called Optimize Drives in Windows 8). Doing so will make sure all pieces of each file or program are stored close together in your computer, so the computer will be able to access them more quickly. In most versions of Windows, the Disk Defragmenter can be found in the Start menu. In Windows 8, you can find it by typing defragment from the Start screen.

The computer is frozen Sometimes your computer may become completely unresponsive, or frozen. When this happens, you won't be able to click anywhere on the screen, open or close applications, or access shut-down options.  Solution 1 (Windows only): Restart Windows Explorer. To do this, press and hold winlogo+Xon your keyboard to open the Task Manager then press T. Next, locate and select Windows Explorer from the Processes tab and click Restart. If you're using Windows 8, you may need to click More Details at the bottom of the window to see the Processes tab. 

Problem:  Blue Screen Error Solution: The usual villains are beta GPU drivers and overclocked CPUs (but feel free to Google specific error messages). GPU drivers see the most frequent changes in enthusiast PCs, and beta versions are sometimes shaky. You can uninstall these drivers in the Add or Remove Programs section of your Control Panel (Programs and Features in Windows 8), where the files are labeled according to your brand (usually Nvidia or AMD, sometimes Intel). Then reboot and install an older version of the driver obtained from the manufacturer's website, preferably the drivers labeled "WHQL" (for Windows Hardware Quality Labs), Microsoft's seal of approval. Didn’t write down the BSOD info? Check out BlueScreenView .

I keep seeing ‘There is a problem with this website’s security certificate’ Sometimes the biggest problems have the easiest fixes. According to support technicians, the lion’s share of issues are due to an incorrect system clock.  The problem is probably with your computer. Website security certificates sync up with your computer’s clock. Old computers in particular run the risk of having a dead CMOS battery—the watch battery in your computer that keeps its system clock ticking. Click the clock in the system tray and select Change date and time settings to correct any issues.

My Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting Spotty wireless connections can be a puzzler. Is it your computer? Your router? Your ISP? Try a few things before calling your Internet service provider.  Windows Network Diagnostics may not always solve your problem, but it will usually point you in the right direction.  Confirm that your computer is within range of your wireless router. Weak signals mean weak connections. Next, make sure your PC’s wireless card has the latest drivers. Try letting Windows troubleshoot for you by right-clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and selecting Troubleshoot problems.

Photoshop Shortcuts PC / Mac - CS6 CC SELECTING Draw Marquee from Center..............................................................Alt-Marquee Add to a Selection........................................................................................Shift Subtract from a Selection................................................................................Alt Intersection with a Selection....................................................................Shift-Alt Make Copy of Selection w/Move tool.........................................Alt-Drag Selection Make Copy of Selection when not in Move tool...................Ctrl-Alt-Drag Selection Move Selection (in 1-pixel Increments)...............................................Arrow Keys Move Selection (in 10-pixel Increments).....................................Shift-Arrow Keys Select all Opaque Pixels on Layer..........................................Ctrl-click on Layer Thumbnail (in Layers panel) Restore Last Selection...

Computers Installing applications   In order to work, an application usually has to be installed on your computer. Typically, installation is as simple as inserting the installation disc and following the instructions on the screen. For software downloaded from the Internet, you can usually double-click it after it is finished downloading and then follow the instructions on the screen. Many applications include a readme file (for example, readme.txt), which includes installation instructions and other information. Files and applications   Each application on your computer has a group of file types—or formats—it is able to open. You generally won't have to figure out which application will open your files. When you double-click a file, your computer will automatically use the correct application to open it, as long as the application is installed on your computer.  If you don't have the correct application installed, you may not be able to open the file. H...

Hard-Ware CD-ROM Short for Compact Disc-Read Only Memory, a CD-ROM (shown right) is an optical disc which contains audio or software data whose memory is read only. A CD-ROM Drive or optical drive is the device used to read them. CD-ROM drives have speeds ranging from 1x all the way up to 72x, meaning it reads the CD roughly 72 times faster than the 1x version. As you would imagine, these drives are capable playing audio CDs and reading data CDs. Below is a picture of the front and back of a standard CD-ROM drive.  Interfaces   Below are the different interfaces that allow a CD-ROM and other disc drives to connect to a computer.  IDE/ATA -  One of the most commonly used interfaces for disc drives. Panasonic -  Older proprietary interface. Parallel -  Interface used with old external CD-ROM drives. PCMCIA (PC Card) -  Interface sometimes used to connect external disc drives to laptop computers. SATA -  Replacing IDE as the new standard to ...

Computers What is an application? You may have heard people talking about using an application or an app. But what exactly does that mean? An app is a type of software that allows you to perform specific tasks. Applications for desktop or laptop computers are sometimes called desktop applications, and those for mobile devices are called mobile apps. When you open an application, it runs inside the operating system until you close it. Most of the time, you will have more than one application open at the same time, and this is known as multitasking.  Types of desktop applications   There are countless desktop applications out there, and they fall into many different categories. Some are more full-featured (like Microsoft Word), while others may only do one or two things (like gadgets). Below are just a few types of applications you might use:  Word processors:  A word processor allows you to write a letter, design a flyer, and create many other types of documents....

My machine keeps restarting Hardware problems are hard to diagnose and solve. First, confirm that you aren’t just getting the latest wave of Windows updates, which can automatically restart your computer during installation. Then work on updating all of your critical system drivers. Your graphics card, motherboard, and network card drivers are crucial.  “Sometimes it can be viruses, sometimes it can be adware, sometimes it can be overheating, and sometimes it can be something as simple as making sure your video card is updated,” Geek Squad’s Meister says.  Is your computer making weird noises? If you’re lucky all you’ll need to do is give the machine a thorough cleaning. Modern computers have safeguards that shut down the system if a component is overheating, which can be the cause of frequent restarts when you’re running resource-intensive programs or video games.

My computer makes strange noises If your computer suddenly starts to buzz or vibrate, it can be due to a hardware failure. High, whining noises may indicate problems with the electrical components, while buzzing noises are often caused by lack of ventilation.  Tips:   Clean the filter and fan for dust and make sure that all air inlets are free. If you have a laptop, you can try to uninstall and reinstall your sound drivers. If it is a desktop, it may be that the sound card needs replacement.

Creating Files on Google Drive   Google Drive doesn't just store your files;  it also allows you to create, share, and manage documents with its own productivity apps. If you've ever used a suite like Microsoft Office, some things about Google Drive's apps might seem familiar. For instance, the types of files you can work with are very similar to files that can be created with various Microsoft Office programs.  These are the types of docs you can create and share with Google Drive: Documents:  For composing letters, flyers, essays, and other text-based files (similar to Microsoft Word documents) Spreadsheets:  For storing and organizing information (similar to Microsoft Excel worksheets) Presentations:  For creating and presenting slides (similar to Microsoft PowerPoint slideshows) Forms:  For collecting and organizing data Drawings:  For creating simple vector graphics or diagrams

Printer A printer is an external hardware device responsible for taking computer data and generating a hard copy of that data. Printers are one of the most used peripherals on computers and are commonly used to print text, images, and photos. The picture is the Lexmark Z605 Inkjet, an example of a computer printer.  Types of printers   Below is a list of all the different computer printers. Today, the most common printers used with a computer are Inkjet and Laser printers.  All-in-one (AIO) printer  Dot Matrix printer  Inkjet printer  Laser printer  Multifunction printer (MFP)  Thermal printer  LED printer  3D printer  Printer interfaces   There are different interfaces or ways a printer can connect to the computer. Today, the most common way a printer connects to a computer is using USB.  Cat5  Firewire  MPP-1150  Parallel port  SCSI  Serial port  USB

What is Google Drive?   In the spring of 2012, Google introduced Google Drive, a cloud-based storage system that allows you to keep your documents, photos, videos, and other files online. Whenever you place files on Google Drive, they are stored on Internet servers rather than on your computer's hard drive. You can then access those files from any computer with an Internet connection or even a mobile device, like a tablet or smartphone. Drive even allows you to share files with your family, friends, and coworkers. Why use Google Drive?   Google Drive is one of the most advanced cloud storage services available today, offering  gigabytes (15GB) of free storage space. If you've never used a cloud-based storage service like Google Drive before, take a moment to consider the advantages of keeping your files online. Because files can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection, Google Drive eliminates the need to email or save a file to a USB drive. And becaus...

Reinstall the Operating System Some people think that computers become slower over time and eventually need to be replaced – it’s sad, but true. Other people may take the computer to a repair place when it starts slowing down. When dealing with a computer that’s become bogged down by startup programs and toolbars, a simple Windows reinstall is often the fastest, easiest solution.  This can also help if you’re experiencing other problems with your computer, such as file corruption or weird errors. While it’s often possible to troubleshoot these things by replacing corrupted files and bad drivers, it’s usually faster to just reset Windows back to its factory state.  Most new computers come with factory restore partitions, which you can access by pressing the correct key during the boot process (check your computer’s manual). You may also have CDs or DVDs you can restore your computer from. If you installed Windows yourself, you can us...

My smartphone will not synch with my PC In order to ensure backup of your smartphone, it is important that you regularly synch your phone content with your computer. When synchronisation does not work as expected may be due to various factors, depending on the type of smartphone and PC. Sometimes it is required that all programs are closed, during synching or backup.  Tips:   Close open applications, if required. Be sure to download or reject the proposed updates that pop up along the way, so synchronization can be done. Look for the icon of synchronization to appear and check if for example the latest photos on your smartphone have been transferred to the computer. Verify the user manual for your device.