Enabling Inline AutoComplete for Windows Explorer (XP)
When I'm going through folders on my computer, I like to have the ability to type what I'm looking for in the address bar and have suggestions come up. My old computer would do it automatically, but when I got a new one, it was disabled. Here's how to turn it back on (or off if you're some sort of freak):
To enable the Inline AutoComplete feature:
- Click Start, point to Settings, point to Control Panel, and then click Internet Options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click to select the Use inline AutoComplete check box.
- Click OK.
Source: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;237553
Internet Troubleshooting for Parents
After having my mom call again, waking me up on a Saturday morning (it was before 11!) to tell me that she couldn't get on the internet, I decided they needed a flow chart to troubleshoot problems before sending for help.
Granted, this doesn't take into account the potential need for a hard reset of the router, but I really don't want them doing that anyway and they can always call if it gets to that point.
Click each image for a larger view
Basic Troubleshooting
Advanced Troubleshooting
Transferring Office 2010 Settings Between Computers
Note: This is a tutorial that I think will apply to more people than just my dad, but since he asked for it first, here's to you dad.
So you've setup Office 2010 just the way you like it at work, probably spent a few hours getting every ribbon tab and Quick Access Toolbar setting to your liking, but now you want to use those same settings at home. Do you really want to have to go through that entire process all over again so that your User Interface is the same? I didn't think so. Here's a guide on how to transfer those files between computers.
1. Open Microsoft Word 2010 (The steps will be the same for each Office 2010 Program, but we'll go through the process on Word.)
2. Go to the [File] tab, then click the [Options] button
3. Click on the [Customize Ribbon] settings page (I have to assume you've seen this page if you've customized your Ribbon and/or Quick Access Toolbar), select the [Import/Export] dropdown menu, and choose "Export all customizations"
4. Save the .exportedUI file to your computer or a flash drive, and either email the file to yourself or take the flash drive to your other computer. One note, if you try to email the file and use Outlook at home, it might automatically block the file extension, so you might need to put the .exportedUI inside of a zip file (Right-click on the file and select [Send To] --> [Compressed (ZIP) File]).
5. Repeat steps 1-3 on the computer you would like to transfer the files to, except instead of choosing "Export all customizations" from the [Import/Export] Dropdown menu on the [Customize Ribbon] page, choose "Import customization file" and then select the file that you either emailed to yourself or put on the flash drive.
6. That's it! Now repeat steps 1-5 for each program that you would like to transfer your customized User Interface settings between (e.g. Excel, Powerpoint, etc.)