Articles

Articles found: 82

– Paint.NET: Still Going StrongI’m sure you’ve taken many photos which should have been superb, but which turned out to be rather disappointing! In the old days of film cameras, there wasn’t much you could do about it, but with digital cameras and smartphones, things are different. In this article, I’ll explain how to use your PC as a …

Categories: Multimedia, Office & Software Programs
Operating Systems:
Reference: P

– PC Efficiency: Disable Startup ProgramsIt’s one of the common frustrations of computing: the time it takes Windows to start. It only took a few seconds to shut down, so why should it take five minutes to start up again? The usual reason is socalled ‘startup programs’. Some of these were probably included on your PC when you bought it, …

Categories: Optimisation, Optimisation & System, PC Basics, Troubleshooting
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: P

– PC Maintenance in Simple StepsGiven the opportunity, modern computers do a lot to take care of themselves. Even so, they do still need a little help in some departments – and, depending on how your use your PC, perhaps you’re not always giving it the opportunity it needs to do its own ‘housekeeping’? In this article, I’ll suggest a …

Categories: Diagnosis & Repair, Optimisation & System, PC Basics
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10, 11
Reference: P

– PC System Information: How to Find and Understand itAlthough most of us would rather ignore the technical aspects of our PCs and just get on with using them, there are times when a little technical detail is unavoidable. If you need to solve a problem, or buy new hardware or software, you’ll often need some information about your system. In this article, I’ll …

Categories: Basics, Diagnosis & Repair, Optimisation, Optimisation & System
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: P

– PC Voice ControlWe’re suddenly living in an age of voice control. Just by using your voice, you can give commands to your phone, your TV and your car, and even buy little household devices that respond to spoken commands. So why should your PC be any different? Have a rest from your mouse and keyboard, and try …

Categories: Multimedia, Optimisation, Optimisation & System
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: P

– Phone to PC TransfersYes, you can use them to make telephone calls. And thanks to their large, touch-sensitive screens, that’s much easier to do than it was with the mobile phones of old. But modern smartphones are a real technical wonder: you can use them to take photos, record videos, play music, listen to the radio, visit websites, …

Categories:
Operating Systems:
Reference: P

– Personalise Your Folder IconsWhether on your desk or on your computer, it’s not always easy to keep things organised. The traditional advice is to establish a place for everything and keep everything in its place. On your PC, that means creating separate folders for letters, recipes, finances, and so on, and ensuring you always save files in the …

Categories: Home Page Featured Item, Optimisation
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10, 11
Reference: P

– Photo App Revolution in Windows 11One of the joys of the computer age is being able to take photos on your smartphone or digital camera and keep them forever on your PC. They won’t fade or curl, and they won’t lie forgotten at the bottom of a pile! If you use Windows 11, you already have everything you need to …

Categories: Multimedia
Operating Systems: 11
Reference: P

– Photo Organisation is Now a BreezeIt’s a peculiar thing, but once you’ve copied (or ‘imported’) photos to your PC from your digital camera or mobile phone, it’s not easy to find them again! You’re often forced to look through the thumbnails in folder after folder until you spot something that looks familiar. Let’s put an end to that! In this …

Categories: Multimedia, Multimedia
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: P

– Photos: Successfully Enlarge Small PicturesSomehow you’ve wound up with a picture that’s much smaller than you need. Perhaps it was taken with an old, lower-quality digital camera, or maybe you were given a resized copy of the photo and you can’t get the original. Whatever the reason, you’re faced with the need to enlarge the picture, but if you’ve …

Categories: Multimedia, Optimisation
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10, 11
Reference: P

– Picture Size MattersIt’s quick and easy to take photos with your digital camera or smartphone, but then what? Send them by email, create a collage, use them in a photo book, order photo gifts online, or create a calendar? All this is possible if the picture quality is right. In this article, I’ll explain how to ensure …

Categories: Multimedia
Operating Systems: 8, 10
Reference: P

– Practical Everyday Tips for Working with ExcelA Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is perfect for keeping track of household expenses, car mileage, utility bills and investments. It also works a treat for keeping lists of music and DVD collections or people’s contact details. Whether you’re just dipping a toe into the waters of Excel, or you’re a long-time spreadsheet user, the nine tips …

Categories: Office & Software Programs
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10, 11
Reference: P

– Printer Ink TipsYou might have been amazed at how cheaply you could buy a new printer: as little as £25 would still leave you change for a cup of tea. But before long you’ll have to replace its ink cartridges, and that experience can leave you needing a drink of something stronger: £10 for a mere 3 …

Categories: Hardware
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: P

– Presenting with PowerPointPerhaps you’re planning to give a talk at a local club or association, or you’re pitching a business idea, or you’d like to show the photos from your recent trip at your next family get-together? In every case, the presentation program Microsoft PowerPoint can help. PowerPoint is one of the staple ingredients of Microsoft Office, …

Categories: Office & Software Programs
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: P

– Printer Installation OptimisationHas your old printer stopped working properly? Are you finding it too slow, or its print quality too poor? If so, it’s time for a new one. Indeed, perhaps you’ve already bought a new printer and you’re ready to connect it up and start using it. But wait! First remove all the previous printer drivers …

Categories: Hardware, Installation & Setup
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10, 11
Reference: P

– Printing: Solve Problems YourselfYou’ve finished your letter, or artfully edited your photo, or put the finishing touches to your spreadsheet, and your faithful printer is at the ready to print the result. But… it seems your printer isn’t quite as faithful as it should be! Don’t worry, you’re not alone. They may have been a standard part of …

Categories: Basics, Troubleshooting
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10, 11
Reference: P

– Print Envelopes in WordMicrosoft Word makes light work of letter-writing: you’re almost guaranteed to end up with a neat, professional-looking result. But when it comes to the envelope, many of us resort to writing the address by hand. Why? Perhaps it’s because we don’t know where to start, or because we’ve wasted too many envelopes trying to get …

Categories: Office & Software Programs
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10, 11
Reference: P

– Printing Power: EnvelopesWith Microsoft Word, letter-writing is a doddle. It takes almost no effort to write a formal letter that looks smart and neat. But when it comes to the envelope, many of us spoil the effect by writing the address by hand. Perhaps we’re not sure where to start, or we’re not even aware that Word …

Categories: Hardware, Office & Software Programs, Optimisation
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10, 11
Reference: P

– Protect Against The Biggest Ransomware ThreatThere’s no doubt about it, ransomware is the fastest growing threat to your PC and files there has ever been. Worse, UK users seem to be near the top of the ransomware ‘hit-list’: over a quarter of malware attacks reported in the UK involve ransomware, with more than 700,000 computers infected. In this article, I’ll …

Categories: Diagnosis & Repair
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: P

– Protect Your Tablet or Notebook from TheftYou probably use your notebook or tablet PC when you’re out and about and not just in the comfort of your own home – after all, that’s one of the reasons for choosing a mobile device! The drawback to these devices is that they’re a common target for thieves: it takes no time to grab …

Categories: Internet & Security
Operating Systems:
Reference: P