Friday, August 8, 2008

ZIPPING FILES


Compressing or Zipping files is a process that allows you to squeeze or compress your large files, greatly reducing the size of the files . Why would you want to do this? Because , compressing and reducing the size to smaller files –

· The files require less disk space.

· You can transfer the reduced files from computer to computer via cable, disk or over the Internet, more quickly.

· Store more files on your hard drive.

· Pack many related files into one archive or library.

For example, zipping files is similar to taking a large letter, folding it up and putting it inside a small envelope. You mail the envelope, which takes up less space, and the recipient of the mail can open the envelope and fold out the large letter again .Compressing and zipping files follow the same technique- you take a large file or a group of files, compress it and place it in one small compressed file and then send it. At the other end the contents can be extracted back to their original size and used as normal.

While Windows XP has a built-in compression tool that gets the job done, there are File Compression Programmes that have to be downloaded and used.

Use this simple 3 steps to compress your files with the built in tool in windows XP.

1. Open Windows Explorer or My Computer and select the file(s) you want to compress. To select more than one file to compress, CTRL-click on each of the files you want to add. If you want to compress all the files in a folder, press CTRL-A to select all.

2. Right-click on any of the files you've selected and select Send to > Compressed Folder.

3. A .zip file will be created with a default name that is the same as the first file that you selected. If you want to change the name of your archive, right-click on it, select Rename and enter the new name File Compression Programs

Many popular file compression programs are available for download on the Internet. These programs are able to compress files to what are known as Zip files with the filename extension .zip. The two extremely popular zip file programs are WinZip and WinRar . But, unfortunately both are sharewares and only the trial versions are available for 21-30 days evaluation . Winzip can be downloaded here and WinRar here. Do not use two programmes together.

There are plenty of other free and good alternatives. You can just pick anyone of the following.

7-Zip is a freeware and like its better-known competitors, unpacks a host of archive formats, including zip files, rar files, and other formats. It is especially well-suited for developers and anyone else who moves between the Windows and Linux/Unix worlds. You can download 7-Zip from here or from the download icon at the right side.

IZArc is another freeware which can unzip (extract) almost any archive file types .If you have many documents containing confidential information or you just want to back up your files you can use IZArc to create password protected archives secured with strong encryption.

ExtractNow 4.15 is a simple freeware utility that allows you to extract multiple archives quickly and easily.

ZipWiz 2005 provides novice users with a fully prompted freeware solution for working with zip files. The zip wizard leads you step-by-step through the processes of zipping and unzipping files .Try this freeware if you're new to file compression.

ALZip is a one-stop archiving and compression freeware program designed for speed and ease of use. Beginners can easily perform advanced tasks, while power users can do things faster

QuickZip is a powerful and fast utility that provides support to ZIP and other popular archive formats .

How Do I Use a File Compression Program?

It's easy to use most file compression programs . Simply drag a file and drop it on the program's desktop icon to create a compressed version. Moreover, if you have compression software installed, right-clicking (or control-clicking on a Mac) on a file icon normally brings up a menu that lets you to compress the file.

How to Compress Large Media Files

If you have large media files or a large group of files that you need to archive, move, or distribute, it may be easier to compress them first. This guide will step you through compressing (archiving) files

  1. Download a file compression programme such as 7Zip, Winzip, or WinRar.
  2. Verify that the downloaded file has no viruses or spyware.
  3. Install the program.
  4. Select the files to be compressed by holding down "Ctrl" or "Alt" while left-clicking.
  5. Right-click on the selection to pop up a content menu.
  6. Select "Add to Archive" or similar listing.

Save your archive.


Thats it! You have successfully zipped a file!


Copyright © 2008 Computer Babes. All Rights Reserved


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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

MS POWERPOINT TUTORIAL

Computer Noobs, WOW everyone at your next family reunion or friends kitty party by presenting a slide show about your family, your friends or about any thing you feel like sharing. Powerpoint is a wonderful programme to create slideshows!

You can follow the following links for a detailed step by step lesson on Powerpoint.

For Powerpoint 2003

http://www.actden.com/pp2003/

For Powerpoint 2002

http://www.baycongroup.com/powerpoint/00_powerpoint_tutorial.htm

For Powerpoint 2000

http://www.bcschools.net/staff/PowerPointHelp.htm

http://www.education.umd.edu/blt/tcp/powerpoint.html

For Powerpoint 2007

http://www.actden.com/pp2007/

Well, its time for you to create a presentation and flabbergast everyone ! Do you feel that you are growing into a toddler already?





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MS WORD TUTORIAL

All ye computer Babes… Word is a definite MUST. It's important to become familiar with the various features of this software to create documents and its easy.

The following links have comprehensive step by step tutorial with illustrations .Follow the link to go to the tutorial.

http://www.fgcu.edu/SUPPORT/office2000/word/

http://www.bcschools.net/staff/WordHelp.htm

http://www.baycongroup.com/word2007/index.html

Well…now, after going through these instructions, you must be equipped to create your own documents and even desktop publishing without the help or assistance of the computer know-alls. :)

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Monday, August 4, 2008

Microsoft Office

The Microsoft Office Suite is developed for the Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems. It includes programs such as Word , Excel , PowerPoint ,Access, Outlook and Frontpage.

WORD – This is a powerful word processing program and it is an essential tool for the creation of documents. It is a sophisticated program with basic desktop publishing capabilities

POWERPOINT : This is a popular presentation graphics program for making slideshow presentations. It is used to create slideshows, composed of text, graphics, movies and other objects, which can be displayed on-screen and navigated through by the presenter. Movies, videos, sounds and music, as well as word art and auto shapes can be added to slideshows.

EXCEL: A spreadsheet program , Excel is probably the most widely used spreadsheet in the world.



OUTLOOK : This should not be confused with Outlook Express. This is a personal information manager with e-mail communication software. It includes an e-mail client, calendar, task manager and address book.

ACCESS : is an easy-to-use program for creating and maintaining databases . It is a powerful personal database and data manipulation and management software that is also widely used in many small businesses .

FRONTPAGE: A program to help people design their own Web pages without the use of HTML. It is one of the most popular Web site editing programs for creating, editing, managing, and uploading websites.

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Sunday, August 3, 2008

Five Important Steps to Keep your computer safe


Step 1:
Stop using Internet Explorer. Switch to
FireFox. It has speed and security and is quicker, safer and easy. It blocks unwanted pop-ups, keeps your desktop clutter-free with tabbed browsing. It includes Phishing protection and has useful add-ons .You can download FireFox here or clicking the banner below.
Step 2:
Anti-Virus Software : These softwares are specifically devised for the detection and prevention of known viruses. These antivirus programmes scan files and emails. If a virus is found in one of the objects you are about to use, the antivirus program issues a warning and will stop you from opening that infected file or program . It should be set to auto-update regularly. Always use webmail services like Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo, because they provide free anti-virus scanner .Norton Anti-Virus is an extremely powerful antivirus program but if you find its price exorbitant, there are other free Anti-virus softwares available. Two softwares which are excellent and free, and only for non-commercial use, are AVG antivirus and Avast! 4 Home Edition . Do not however use more than one Anti-Virus program!
Step 3 :
Spyware Protection : Spyware is like virus that finds its way into your computer, although , it does not try to duplicate itself to other machines. However , more and more spywares are blending with viruses, making it harder to eliminate and evade. Two softwares that can scan your computer and help in removing spywares are Ad-aware & SpyBot Search & Destroy. You can instal both the softwares to enhance extra safety measures.
Step 4 :
FireWall : The firewall blocks and acts as a barrier from intruders like hackers, viruses and worms from breaking into your computer across the Internet. Make certain that the firewall is switched on. Zonealarm is the best free firewall software available. They also do have a paid version.
Step 5:
Set your browser preferences only to accept
cookies that you recognise and wish to install. Many cookies are quite genuine but others can act as spyware or Trojans . Cookies contain words such as access, ad, tracker, backdoor, burrow or exe. Trojans are also disguised as helpful programs but actually install malicious ones – spyware, that reports your activities back to their makers.


Copyright © 2008 Computer Babes. All Rights Reserved


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BROWSERS

Surfing the Web (World Wide Web) has ceased to be a friendly neighbourhood and has become quite an unsafe place , flooded with bad monsters of the internet like dangerous Viruses , Trojan horses, and Spywares . Therefore to surf safe, we need a secure Browser, a good Anti-Virus programme , Spyware and above all Awareness.

The following are the most popular browsers:

Internet Explorer (IE) by Microsoft, the popular browser till recently, hasn't had any major updates in recent times and thus it now takes the second place after Mozilla . Even with the latest security patches installed, IE is considered a marked risk. Internet Explorer 8will be released by the end of 2008.

Firefox is a new free browser from Mozilla which was released in 2004 and offers a safer alternative to Internet Explorer.


Opera is another Internet browser known to be fast and small and available for many operating systems. Opera is the preferred browser for a number of small devices like mobile phones and hand-held computers.


The Mozilla Application Suite has a powerful browser with great features like tabbed browsing and popup window blocking. It also comes packaged with an e-mail program, chat client, and web page editor!

Apple’s Safari has become very popular with Macintosh users that Microsoft has stopped developing IE for the Mac! Safari is elegant and fast, and is the default browser on the Mac. Starting with version 3, Safari is also available for Windows.







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Saturday, August 2, 2008

Welcome to all greyhaired Computer Newbies!

Taking the first step into the wonderful world of computers? Well, that’s us .. The Computer Newbies! Hmmm....We may have seen more summers than others and are a bit more grey haired than others , but that does not deter our enthusiasm or the thirst for all the new technology and knowledge .We strive to keep abreast of the world…a whole new world which we journey by SURFING! Read more Entry>>