March 29, 2007

Dear Sassy: In my Yahoo email account (from home, of course) I tried to add text to the end of a forwarded message. However, when I clicked Forward, a new window opens with the message "Note: forwarded message attached." I didn't want the message to be sent as an attachment. How can I make sure the text is in the body of an email versus an attachment?
~Linda was Left Hanging

Dear Linda: Sassy wonders if this problem has occurred in the past or if this is a new problem? Are you able to forward some emails, but not others? Hmm, Sassy doesn't normally answer a question with more questions but I am trying to understand more of the problem.

Sassy is guessing that the email file size is too big and possibly is a setting in your email account that emails over a certain size are automatically sent as attachments. You might try looking for that setting, although Sassy would have to test a yahoo account as I don't have one...

However, a quick work around would be to copy the email text and create a new message with this text. This way you can be certain that your text is in the body of the email versus an attachment.

March 28, 2007

Dear Sassy: When are we going to upgrade to Windows Vista? I've seen the advertisements on television and the new Vista looks pretty cool.
~Here Vista, Vista, Vista

Dear Vista: At this time the library does not have plans on upgrading to Windows Vista. In fact, Sassy doesn't think that LSUHSC has implemented Vista. I believe it is still in a test phase. If/when Vista is approved for release on our campus, the library will not really see a change. Most of our machines (as well as 80% of all machines in use today) are not Vista capable. Possibly WAY in the future newly purchased machines for the library will be equipped with Vista.

March 19, 2007

Dear Sassy: I had a patron in the computer lab experience problems when trying to reply/forward in their web mail. When she would click on "reply" a blank window would come up and then vanish. This also happened when she clicked on "forward." How do we reply/forward using the web mail in the computer lab?
~No Communications in the Lab

Dear Communications: The computer "thinks" that the new window to reply/forward is a popup window and kills it before it has a chance to open completely. This occurrence happens when browsing the Internet as well. In order to view the "popup" window we must out think the computer. Well, really we just need to override this feature - we must take back control! We do that by holding down the Ctrl key and then clicking on reply or forward. This will allow the window to open.

March 19, 2007

Dear Sassy: I need to print an Excel document I received in an e-mail. I have printed it and it all comes out on one page—which I cannot read. What do I need to do? Thanks!
~Printing not in Paradise

Dear Printing: This a great question where the answer can be applied to printing from all different mediums. First open up the document that you are trying to print. Go to File > Print Preview. This should give you an idea of what the document will look like before printing. Once you are in the Print Preview you should have some choices at the top of the window. Click on Setup. This will bring up the Page Setup menu. Carefully review the selections that are chosen on this page. Verify that the scaling of the page is correct. Or maybe you need to change the orientation of the page - portrait versus landscape. Once you have made your changes, click Ok. This will immediately activate your changes in the Print Preview screen. If your document looks good, go ahead and click Print. If you need to make some more changes, click back on Setup.

March 14, 2007

Dear Sassy: I just noticed that my clock on my computer has not updated for the Daylight Saving Time change. How do I get back on time?
~Running late because of DST

Dear Running: What a timely question! On our work computers we should have all the necessary updates that would adjust our clocks for DST. But you can double check just to be sure. Open up an Internet browser, click on Tools, Windows Update. And run the Custom updates. This will let you see what you are going to download/update prior to doing so.

If you have all the updates (except for IE7) we need to verify a setting on your computer. Click on Start > Settings > Control Panel > Date and Time. Once this window opens, click on the Time Zone tab and make sure the box is checked next to Automatically Adjust Clock for Daylight Saving Changes. Once you check this box, your clock should correct itself.

March 13, 2007

Dear Sassy: I am creating a PowerPoint presentation and would like to use screen captures of web pages. What would be the best way to accomplish this?
~Screen Captured via the Web

Dear Screen: Hmmm, Sassy had to test this one out first before responding. First, open up your Internet browser to the web page that you would like in your presentation. On your keyboard locate the F11 key and press it. This will maximize your viewing area for the web page. Next, press the ALT key and the Print Screen key at the same time. This will capture the active window. Open up your PowerPoint presentation and paste (Ctrl V) the screen capture into a blank slide. If you need to crop any of the image in your PowerPoint slide you can Right click on the image and click on Format Picture. To return your web page viewing area back to its normal state, press the F11 key again.

March 6, 2007

Dear Sassy: How do I get rid of the little window that pops up to remind me to clean up my desktop by running the "Desktop Wizard"? I don't use this function; I keep my desktop fairly clean.
~ Little Miss Merry Maid

Dear Merry: Sassy understands your frustration of being reminded to clear off "unused items on your desktop." If something is on Sassy's desktop, then it needs to stay there. Ok, right click on your Desktop. This will bring up a new window called Display Properties. Click on the Desktop tab at the top and then click on Customize Desktop. At the bottom of this new window will be a section labeled Desktop Cleanup. If you uncheck this option, the reminder window will go away. Happy cleaning!

March 6, 2007

Dear Sassy: I'm embarrased to ask this, but if I specify Norton anti-virus to run when "idle" does that mean my computer has to be connected to the Internet through my isp provider or, that my computer has to just be turned on? If it just has to be turned on, then how do I know Norton is running and when it is finished so I can turn off my computer? (Dial-up blocks telephone calls).
~ To be continued...

Dear Continued: Good follow up question! When the computer is "idle" it just means that it isn't running any programs, being idle doesn't have anything to do with Internet connectivity. For Norton to update its virus definitions, your computer must be connected to the Internet. Now, once your machine has the new definitions, you can disconnect from the Internet and run the Norton software to scan your machine.

From the past questions regarding Norton and your Internet use, it may benefit you more to complete all of your work on your machine and then manually update the Norton definitions, disconnect from the Internet and run the Norton scan software (in that order). When you manually run the software there should be a window showing the progress of the scan. This window will also be an indicator on when Norton is finished scanning so that you can shut down your machine.

March 5, 2007

Dear Sassy: I still have a few more questions regarding my anti-virus software. Can I specify when it runs? It seems to slow down my dial-up connection even slower. Can I check my email before it starts running, and then leave my computer on to do the Norton scan when I'm done working?
~Part deux on Anti-virus

Dear Deux: Keep the questions coming! Sassy wants to make sure that you have all the information you need to keep you and your machine happy. You can specify when the anti-virus software will run. Sassy does not have Norton installed, but you should be able to open up the program (Norton) to look to find where you can define options. With McAfee (like on our work machines) click Start > Programs > Network Associates > VirusScan Console. Once this opens you can specify when it will run as well as when the program will update.

For your home machine, instead of defining a time in which to update/run your software you may want to designate a time frame. In McAfee there are a few alternative choices you can make: At System Startup (where you can place a delay) or When Idle. If you select one of these options, this will guarantee that your machine will update on a regular basis (since your machine will be on) and hopefully not slow down your Internet connection too much.

March 5, 2007

Dear Sassy: How important is it to update my Norton Virus software annually on my home computer? It requires an annual fee of about $35.00. I have spybot search and destroy as well as automatic updates from various MS software products.
~ Frugal at home

Dear Frugal: If you get on the Internet at all on your home machine then you need an anti-virus software such as Norton or McAfee. The $35 annual investment for Norton is minimal compared to the damage viruses can inflict on your computer. Perhaps re-registering your software occurs on an annual basis but you need to update your software on a daily basis (or however frequently you get on your home computer). Sassy is sure that is what you meant, but did want to clarify.

March 2, 2007

Dear Sassy: Is it possible to alphabetize my list of favorites in Internet Explorer?
~ A to Z in IE

Dear A to Z: Why of course you can! Normally favorites are listed in chronological order. Meaning that the most recent favorite that you added is at the very bottom of the list. To alphabetize your favorites in Internet Explorer (and in Mozilla Firefox) click on your Favorites tab and Right click anywhere in the list. Select Sort by Name. This will place all of your folders at the top of the list with all your links below - all in alphabetical order.

This also brings up the point of naming your Favorites. When you click to add a website as one of your Favorites you can change the default name to something more descriptive. This is a good idea and will help you find what you are looking for faster.