How to Capture a Screen Shot with Mac OS X

The Mac OS X has several options for Screen capture. The capture process will allow for saving (capturing) the whole desktop or individual items on the screen.

To capture the entire desktop:

• Press the keys: Command + Shift + 3. This will save the capture in a PNG File on the desktop. This file can be opened using the application called
  Preview.

To capture the entire desktop without saving the PNG file to the desktop:

• Press the keys Command + Control + Shift + 3. This will save the screen shot to your clipboard so you can paste it in to another program.

To capture a portion of the desktop or a single item on the desktop:

• Press the keys Command + Shift + 4. This will change the curser to a cross shaped item and will allow you to draw around the item you want to capture. After selecting the area you want, release the mouse button and the item will be saved to the Desktop in a PNG file. (If you are using Mac OS X 10.3 or earlier the item is saved as a PDF file.

To capture a specific application window:

• Press the Command + Shift + 4, then press the Space Bar.
  This will change the cursor to a camera. As you move around the desktop, stop on an application. This will cause the application to become highlighted. With the window highlighted that you want to capture, press the mouse button. This will capture this application window only. The entire desktop does not need to be seen to do this.
  You will find this captured item on the desktop as a PNG File. (If you are using Mac OS X 10.3 or earlier the item is saved as a PDF file.)

Note: you can capture to the Clipboard instead of saving to the desktop by pressing the Control key during the last two commands described above.

How to Disable or Enable Toolbars in Internet Explorer

Toolbars that are offered my different search engines and web sites can be very useful. However, there may reach a point where these become more of a hindrance than a benefit. You can remove the toolbar by following these steps:

 

1. Click on Start » Control Panel. Select Programs » Uninstall a Program.
   
    
   
   
   
2. Choose the toolbar you wish to uninstall and click Uninstall/Change.
   
   
   
   
3. Close the Control Panel.

To turn off a toolbar:

1. With Internet Explorer open, press the Alt key. This will open the Menu bar.
   
   
   
   
2. Click the View menu option, then Toolbars.
3. All of the toolbars currently being displayed will show with check next to it.
   
   
   
   
4. To disable the Toolbar, click the toolbar you wish to turn off.
5. If you are using Internet Explorer 9, you may receive a message asking if you wish to disable the toolbar. If so, click Disable. The toolbar will no longer be displayed.
   
   
   
   
6. If there is more than one toolbar you wish to disable, simply repeat the process.
7. To re-enable or turn the Toolbar back on, simply press Alt to display the Menu bar. Click View » Toolbars. Click on the toolbar to display it again.

How to Import Internet Explorer Favorites and Other Items into Mozilla Firefox 4

1. Open Mozilla Firefox 4.
   
   
   
   
2. Push the Alt key to display the Menu Bar. Then, click File » Import.
   
   
   
   
3. On the Import Wizard window, click Microsoft Internet Explorer » Next.
   
   
   
   
4. The items available to import will be displayed. Click on the box next to any item you do not wish to import and click the Next button.
   
   
   
   
5. Below is an explanation of the information in each of the items that could be displayed. The information is per the Mozilla Firefox support website:
   
   • Internet Options: General settings, including your home page. Since Firefox and Internet Explorer have different features, Firefox won't be able to import all of your settings.
   • Cookies: Small bits of information stored on your computer by some websites that are used to keep you logged in, store your options, or do other things.
   • Browsing History: Information on the sites you have visited.
   • Saved Form History: Text you entered in text fields on websites.
   • Saved Passwords: Usernames and passwords for websites you told Internet Explorer to remember. Note that you can't import passwords from Internet Explorer 7 or higher.
   • Favorites: Web pages you have saved in your Internet Explorer favorites.
   
   
6. The items that were imported will be shown on the Import Complete window. Click Finish.
   
   
   
   
7. To display your bookmarks, click the Bookmarks icon in the upper right of Mozilla Firefox, and then click From Internet Explorer.
   
   

Reference:

Mozilla Firefox. Importing favorites and other data from Internet Explorer. http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Importing%20favorites%20and%20other%20data%20from%20Internet%20Explorer

How to Add a Printer to a Mac

With Mac OS X 10.6, adding a nearby printer is easy. The nearby printer can be a USB printer connected to the Time Capsule or the Airport base station, a network capable printer that supports Apple Bonjour, or a printer being shared by another Mac.

To add the nearby printer:

1. Open the System Preferences and click on Print and Fax.
   
   
   
2. The Bonjour Service will find and list the printer. Click on the printer and click Add.
   
   
   
3. The Bonjour service will check for the driver and then search the web for the latest driver for the printer. After clicking on Install, the driver will be downloaded and installed automatically.
   
   
   
4. When the driver installation is finished, the printer is ready to use. This function is really easy provided the printer support the Apple Bonjour Service.
   
   

Create Toshiba Recovery Media using USB Flash

This guide will show you how to create the recovery media for your computer.

Before you begin:
If your computer experiences problems that are not recoverable by other methods, you may need to reinstall the Windows operating system and factory-loaded software and drivers. To reinstall using discs, you must create the set of recovery discs before you have a problem. To ensure that you have recovery options available, you should create a set of recovery discs as soon as possible.

If you are creating recovery discs, you should have several blank DVD±R discs ready. A new feature of the Recovery Media Creator is using a USB Flash Drive. If you choose this method, have at least an 8GB drive available.

Note: You cannot use DVD±RW or DVD±R DL discs to create the recovery media.
Close all open applications on the PC. You will not be able to use the computer while it is creating the recovery media.

1. Click Start » All Programs » My Toshiba » Recovery Media Creator.
2. Select DVD or USB Flash from the drop-down lists next to System Recovery Media and Application Discs, depending on the type of external media you want to use.
3. Select the items you want to copy to DVD or USB Flash drive by clicking the check box next to each item's Name—recovery files, applications (original bundled drivers and applications), or both the recovery files and applications.
   
   
   
   
   NOTE: Any information on the DVD or USB drive is erased during the recovery process. Ensure that you have saved any important information to another storage device or you are using blank media before performing this procedure.
   
   
4. Click Create.
5. Insert a blank DVD into your optical disc drive or insert the USB Flash drive when prompted.
6. As you create your recovery DVD set, be sure to label each DVD sequentially (for example, "1 of 3," "2 of 3," etc.), so that you will know in which order to insert the discs during recovery.
7. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the copy process.

Note: If you are copying the recovery files to DVDs, be sure to label each DVD in the set sequentially (for example, "1 of 3," "2 of 3," etc.), so that you will know in which order to insert the discs during recovery.

How to Calibrate the MacBook Battery

The battery for the iBook and the MacBook has a microchip inside the battery that controls the charge and discharge process of the unit. The battery needs to be recalibrated to keep the on screen display of the percentage and time accurate.
You should perform this function when you first get the unit and every two or three months from then on. If you use the system mostly on AC, you may need to perform this monthly.

1. Plug in the power adapter and fully charge you MacBook. Watching the indicator lights to make sure you have a full charge.
2. Disconnect the AC power and use the MacBook till you receive the warning about the low battery.
3. Continue to use the unit until the system until it goes to sleep.
4. Connect the AC power adapter and fully recharge the battery again. This will calibrate the battery. One full charge discharge and full recharge will calibrate the battery.

NOTE: Some MacBook Pro's may need to have the battery rest for a couple of hours before performing the calibration steps.

How to Disable Windows Firewall in Windows XP

Windows Firewall can sometimes prevent files from being downloaded or interfere with a third-party firewall. This guide will walk-through how to disable Windows Firewall in Windows XP.

1. Click the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen and select Control Panel on the right half of the menu.
   
   
   
2. The Control Panel should open in Category view. If the Control Panel does not open in Category view, click the Switch to Category View button.
   
   
   
3. Click the Security Center category.
   
   
   
4. Select the Windows Firewall icon below the Manage security settings for: heading.
   
   
   
5. Switch the firewall to Off and click OK on the Windows Firewall window.
   
   
   
6. The Windows Firewall is now off. Close the Security Center and Control Panel windows.

How to Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool in Windows Vista

Windows Vista has a built-in feature called the Memory Diagnostic Tool. It will check the RAM in your computer for errors and notify the user if the RAM needs to be replaced. This utility will not find all errors, but will check for obvious hardware failures in the memory. This guide will walk-through how to run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool in Windows Vista.

1. Click the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
   
   
   
2. Select Control Panel on the right half of the Start menu.
   
   
   
3. The Control Panel should open to a series of categories. If it does not, click the Control Panel Home link on the left.
   
   
   
4. Click the green System and Maintenance link.
   
   
   
5. Click the green Administrative Tools link which is the last heading in the menu.
   
   
6. Double-click the Memory Diagnostic Tool icon in the next window.
   
   
   
7. Select the Restart now and check for problems option to begin the diagnostic.
   
   
   
8. The Memory Diagnostic Tool will run two passes on the RAM check for errors. If any errors are found they will be displayed on the screen. Once the test is complete the system will automatically reboot back into Windows Vista.
   
   
   

How to Use the Graphic Equalizer in Windows Media Player 12

This guide shows you how to use the graphic equalizer to adjust audio output frequencies in Windows Media Player 12.

1. Right-click anywhere in Windows Media Player, then click on Enhancements. Select Graphic Equalizer.
   
   
   
   If the graphic equalizer is turned off, click Turn on.
   
   
   
   
2. You will have a number of options available to you at this point. On the left are three settings that control how the sliders move.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   They can move independently, as a loose group or a tight group.These settings become important if you are doing a custom setting on the graphic equalizer.
   
   
3. At the top is a selection of preset settings for the equalizer.
   
   
   
   
4. Click the currently selected preset to display the full list.
   
   
   
   
5. Select the preset you want or click Custom at the bottom if you wish to adjust the settings manually. If you choose Custom move the sliders to the position you desire.
   
6. Which ever setting you choose a preset or a custom setting, the changes take effect immediately.
   

How to Change the Home Page of Mozilla Firefox

This guide will walk-through how to change the home page of Mozilla Firefox.

1. Open Mozilla Firefox by clicking Start » All Programs » Mozilla Firefox folder » Mozilla Firefox.
   
   
   
2. Click Tools across the top of the window.
   
   
   
3. Select Options.
   
   
   
4. Select the Main button.
   
   
5. Type the address of the desired home page in the Home Page box.
   
   
   
6. Click OK.
7. Close Firefox.
8. Open Firefox again (refer to step 1) to verify the new home page.

How to Add a New User Account in Windows XP

Windows XP comes with one user account set up by default. This guide will walk-through how to add a new user account in Windows XP.

1. Click the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen, then select Control Panel on the right half of the menu.
   
   
   
   
2. The Control Panel should open in Category view. If the Control Panel does not, click the Switch to Category View link.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Select the User Accounts category.
   
   
   
   
4. Click the Create a new account link below Pick a task.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Enter the name of the account you wish to add and click the Next button.
   
   
   
   
6. Select the whether the account will be a Limited or
   Computer administrator account and click the Create Account button.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. The account should then appear as a user at the login screen the next time you restart the computer or log off of the current user account.