I haven't tried this out yet (but I'm going to). I got this from the "Ask Marc Saltzman" column in the Costco Connection magazine.
If you're looking for a free downloadable dictionary/thesaurus that works with most programs, try www.wordweb.info/free
You hold down the control key and right click with your mouse on the word in question and a small window pops up with dictionary and thesaurus info, including Wikipedia links (which are not there when you use the program off line). The software is 7.4 MB and contains 150,000 root words and 120,000 synonym sets, and is available in several country versions.
Showing posts with label computer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label computer. Show all posts
Jul 30, 2009
Jul 8, 2009
Laptop Battery Woes
Twice now I've had issues with my laptop battery, which both times have resulted in my laptop shutting down to prevent a power short from destroying my data. I thought I'd share what I've learned, to save other laptop users the same grief...
The first time, the laptop simply wouldn't power up. There was no response at all to the power button, with or without the power cord.
The issue: the battery contacts were not all touching.
The solution: the Best Buy tech simply took the battery out and then powered the laptop up using just the power cord. Once the laptop was running, he inserted the battery and ran a diagnostic on it to ensure that it wasn't faulty. He then told me that sometimes the batteries get moved slightly so that not all of the contacts meet, and that had been the problem.
The second time, there was power to my laptop, all indicators lit up blue and normal sounds from the hard drive, but no response from the screen. I even tried plugging in my desktop monitor, but that didn't work either.
The issue: the battery was over charged.
The solution: again the tech removed it, used the power chord only, and entered some kind of code (or something) to reactivate the screen. He then told me to NOT use the laptop plugged in with the battery in it, while the battery is fully charged. In other words, don't over charge it again.
The first time, the laptop simply wouldn't power up. There was no response at all to the power button, with or without the power cord.
The issue: the battery contacts were not all touching.
The solution: the Best Buy tech simply took the battery out and then powered the laptop up using just the power cord. Once the laptop was running, he inserted the battery and ran a diagnostic on it to ensure that it wasn't faulty. He then told me that sometimes the batteries get moved slightly so that not all of the contacts meet, and that had been the problem.
The second time, there was power to my laptop, all indicators lit up blue and normal sounds from the hard drive, but no response from the screen. I even tried plugging in my desktop monitor, but that didn't work either.
The issue: the battery was over charged.
The solution: again the tech removed it, used the power chord only, and entered some kind of code (or something) to reactivate the screen. He then told me to NOT use the laptop plugged in with the battery in it, while the battery is fully charged. In other words, don't over charge it again.
Jun 16, 2009
Rambling About Reading, Writing, and the Internet
This has become more of my blogroll page than I blog I actually post to. I log in, and then scroll down to the bottom right (where I have other blogs I read) and then I start surfing (do people still use that term?).
I'm finding lately that I'm able to focus more when I read, after struggling with my attention span in recent years (not sure why it's getting better - maybe the fish oil I've been taking?). I was an absolutely voracious reader as a kid, devouring entire books (well above my grade level) in one sitting. As an adult, however, I have trouble finishing a newspaper column.
I blame "The Google Effect". Hey why not? It makes sense. Good enough theory for me. It beats blaming pregnancy related brain loss (that's just depressing ;)
The upside of spending so much time on the net is that I'll be web savvy when my kids get here. They're already on-line, but in a very controlled and kid friendly environment. When they start to branch out into older kid stuff, I'll be the mom who's one step ahead.
I burst out laughing last night at a TV ad for www.bing.com - the new search engine: the ad showed a couple of women talking, one of them spewing gibberish because she was all Googled out. I found it hilarious, but my husband (being a non-net trades guy) was lost. I guess there's hope for my Google-affected brain yet ;)
I'm finding lately that I'm able to focus more when I read, after struggling with my attention span in recent years (not sure why it's getting better - maybe the fish oil I've been taking?). I was an absolutely voracious reader as a kid, devouring entire books (well above my grade level) in one sitting. As an adult, however, I have trouble finishing a newspaper column.
I blame "The Google Effect". Hey why not? It makes sense. Good enough theory for me. It beats blaming pregnancy related brain loss (that's just depressing ;)
The upside of spending so much time on the net is that I'll be web savvy when my kids get here. They're already on-line, but in a very controlled and kid friendly environment. When they start to branch out into older kid stuff, I'll be the mom who's one step ahead.
I burst out laughing last night at a TV ad for www.bing.com - the new search engine: the ad showed a couple of women talking, one of them spewing gibberish because she was all Googled out. I found it hilarious, but my husband (being a non-net trades guy) was lost. I guess there's hope for my Google-affected brain yet ;)
Jun 12, 2009
Bear With Me...
...while I tinker with some HTML. I'm still learning ;) I'm using this post to try a few things, so it may keep changing...
May 22, 2009
Internet Explorer Issue Resolved?
Looks like everything is back to normal, at least. Meanwhile I now have Firefox downloaded and am using it as an alternate browser. It seems to work really well (I like it!) although the version I've downloaded is missing some plug-ins that I'll have to add (like Flash Player). No biggie.
The upside to it all is that in an attempt to rectify the problem (before I knew it wasn't just me that was having it), I changed my Fine Grind blog template as a way of cleaning up the code. I actually like this new template better, but wouldn't have switched and discovered it if Internet Explorer hadn't gone wonky on me. Silver lining!
The upside to it all is that in an attempt to rectify the problem (before I knew it wasn't just me that was having it), I changed my Fine Grind blog template as a way of cleaning up the code. I actually like this new template better, but wouldn't have switched and discovered it if Internet Explorer hadn't gone wonky on me. Silver lining!
May 21, 2009
Internet Explorer Problems
Ok, soooo... if Firefox opens this blog fine but not Internet Explorer, is it a Blogger issue, or an Internet Explorer Issue?
Not sure how to procede from here, other than to cross my fingers that IE & Blogger will work out the bugs. I've changed my browser to Firefox, but what about readers on IE who will simply move on when they can't open this page?
Oh the joys! Gotta love technology...
Not sure how to procede from here, other than to cross my fingers that IE & Blogger will work out the bugs. I've changed my browser to Firefox, but what about readers on IE who will simply move on when they can't open this page?
Oh the joys! Gotta love technology...
Oops... Blogger Problems
Will this post publish? We'll see... !!
So many times I've been surfing through blogs and encountered sites that would not open. Now it appears that I'm having the same trouble with this site, and "My Life With Two Kids".
It started when I made a small change to the HTML for Fine Grind. I'm very careful when I do this, and after I encountered problems I went back in and reversed the changes. The odd thing is, I didn't make any changes with the Two Kids blog, and yet that one is having problems as well. Hmmm.
The one thing I haven't done yet is restart my laptop in case it's a problem with IE. I'm going to do that next... wish me luck!!
So many times I've been surfing through blogs and encountered sites that would not open. Now it appears that I'm having the same trouble with this site, and "My Life With Two Kids".
It started when I made a small change to the HTML for Fine Grind. I'm very careful when I do this, and after I encountered problems I went back in and reversed the changes. The odd thing is, I didn't make any changes with the Two Kids blog, and yet that one is having problems as well. Hmmm.
The one thing I haven't done yet is restart my laptop in case it's a problem with IE. I'm going to do that next... wish me luck!!
Apr 2, 2009
April Fooled
I unplugged our Internet connection yesterday (because I'm a little paranoid ;) only to hear on the news that the Conf*cker virus could and might spring into action on days after April 1st as well. sigh.
So there ya go, virus peeps - you had your fun. You kept some of us off the Internet for a day. It was an interesting day. My kids fared better than I thought they would (but then again we have Wii). I read part of a book (hey! that was fun) and got caught up on some laundry (hmmm. what does that say about me and my Internet habit? Never mind...)
So there ya go, virus peeps - you had your fun. You kept some of us off the Internet for a day. It was an interesting day. My kids fared better than I thought they would (but then again we have Wii). I read part of a book (hey! that was fun) and got caught up on some laundry (hmmm. what does that say about me and my Internet habit? Never mind...)
Mar 29, 2009
April 1st Virus Info
Will it be dangerous, or is it just a hoax?
Here's an article from the Calgary Herald (my McAfee declared this a safe link) with more info:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Technology/Virus+erupt+April/1425490/story.html
Apparently the virus is already in 12 million PCs world wide, and on April 1st these PCs will communicate with the remote version of the virus for new instructions.
Macs are not at risk at all, and PCs that are newer with their Microsoft updates current are at less risk.
I don't know about you, but I'm disconnecting my Internet on April 1st. My question is, will the virus still be active on April 2nd?
I guess we'll find out! Good luck, everyone...
Here's an article from the Calgary Herald (my McAfee declared this a safe link) with more info:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Technology/Virus+erupt+April/1425490/story.html
Apparently the virus is already in 12 million PCs world wide, and on April 1st these PCs will communicate with the remote version of the virus for new instructions.
Macs are not at risk at all, and PCs that are newer with their Microsoft updates current are at less risk.
I don't know about you, but I'm disconnecting my Internet on April 1st. My question is, will the virus still be active on April 2nd?
I guess we'll find out! Good luck, everyone...
Mar 13, 2009
Norton Nonsense
I just tried renewing my Norton anti-virus protection. No it hasn't expired yet, to any hackers out there. (I'm not paranoid, I just don't like excluding any readers ;)
Anyway...
Although it had me under "Canada" in the country field, it wouldn't let me proceed any further until I entered a valid US zip code. (sigh). Ok, soooo... even though it defies logic to enter a US zip code under "Canada", I entered the only one I could think of. Please don't laugh.
Ready?
.
.
.
.
.
Yes, you're right. I entered:
.
.
.
.
.
9-0-2-1-0
It accepted it!!! So there ya go, Beverly Hills folks, the province of BC Canada is now included in your popular zip. I feel a shade cooler already...
Anyway...
Although it had me under "Canada" in the country field, it wouldn't let me proceed any further until I entered a valid US zip code. (sigh). Ok, soooo... even though it defies logic to enter a US zip code under "Canada", I entered the only one I could think of. Please don't laugh.
Ready?
.
.
.
.
.
Yes, you're right. I entered:
.
.
.
.
.
9-0-2-1-0
It accepted it!!! So there ya go, Beverly Hills folks, the province of BC Canada is now included in your popular zip. I feel a shade cooler already...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
