Tech Tip of the Day: How to backup your computer's registry

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How to Upgrade to Lion

Description: This document provides step-by-step instructions on how to download and upgrade Mac OS X 10.6.6 (or later) to Mac OS Lion 10.7 from the App Store on the Mac Book Pro.

Benefits of Upgrading to Lion

1. Multi-touch gestures
2. Full-screen apps
3. Mission Control
4. Launchpad
5. Auto-Save and Versions
6. AirDrop
7. Updated Apps
8. Many more features
   • Auto-correction, Resume, Window resizing, Emoji support, Digital signatures, Restore partition, all my files, Search tokens, better file management, Low-power wake, Interactive iTunes screensavers, and FileVault 2.

All these Benefits can be viewed at: http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/12/7070647-mac-os-x-lion-yes-its-worth-the-upgrade

Minimum Requirements

• Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
• 2GB of memory
• OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
• 7GB of available space
• Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
• Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

Step 1: Make sure your Mac can run Lion by meeting at least the minimum requirements. Click on the Apple icon at the top left of the screen, then choose About This Mac.






Step 2: If your Mac matches up with the requirements. Click the App Store Icon on the bottom of the screen.



Step 3: Next, type in "OS X Lion" in the search bar in the upper right hand side of the App Store.



Step 4: Next, click on the "OS X Lion" productivity software and select the "29.99" and "buy" app.



Step 5: Next, It is going to ask for an Apple ID and Password. If you don’t have one you can create one at this time by clicking the Create Apple ID Button.



Step 6: Once Logged In, advance to OS X Lion by clicking "Download".

Step 7: After that, click the "Purchased" icon on the App Store menu bar to access the Lion OS software download.



Step 8: Next, click the "Install" button to the right of the OS X Lion software to start downloading.



Step 9: OS X Lion will display in the downloads folder on the lower right hand corner of the screen showing the status of the download. The OS X Lion software is also seen in the App Store as "Installing".



Hint: You can "Pause" or "Cancel Download" by clicking the applet on the Apple



Step 10: Once downloaded from the App Store, click the OS X Lion Applet at the bottom of the page to employ the install.

Step 11: Next, The Mac OS X Lion install screen will pop-up. Read the License agreement and click "Agree".



Step 12: When "Agree" is clicked a window will pop-up to confirm, click "Agree".



Step 13: In order to process this install, Verify your Password and click the OK button.



Step 14: Click "Install" on the Mac OS X Menu to continue to install



Step 15: Connect the computer to a power source in order to complete download without the battery dying.



Step 16: Next Screen will show Mac OS X Lion downloading and computer will restart after download is complete.



Step 17: After Lion has completed and restarted, Lion Setup Assistant will be the first open window on the desktop. Scroll inside the middle text box and click "continue".



CONGRATULATIONS on successfully installing Mac OS X Lion!

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For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Use shortcut keys as an alternative to the mouse when working in Windows. You can open, close, and navigate the Start menu, desktop, menus, dialog boxes, and Web pages using keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts may also make it easier for you to interact with your computer. Menus may have an Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu; with the menu list open, pressing the letter will carry out the corresponding command.

General keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
CTRL+C	Copy.
CTRL+X	Cut.
CTRL+V	Paste.
CTRL+Z	Undo.
DELETE	Delete.
SHIFT+DELETE	Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.
CTRL while dragging an item	Copy selected item.
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item	Create shortcut to selected item.
F2	Rename selected item.
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.
CTRL+LEFT ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
CTRL+DOWN ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
CTRL+UP ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys	Highlight a block of text.
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys	Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document.
CTRL+A	Select all.
F3	Search for a file or folder.
ALT+ENTER	View properties for the selected item.
ALT+F4	Close the active item, or quit the active program.
ALT+Enter	Displays the properties of the selected object.
ALT+SPACEBAR	Opens the shortcut menu for the active window.
CTRL+F4	Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously.
ALT+TAB	Switch between open items.
ALT+ESC	Cycle through items in the order they were opened.
F6	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F4	Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
SHIFT+F10	Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
ALT+SPACEBAR	Display the System menu for the active window.
CTRL+ESC	Display the Start menu.
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name	Display the corresponding menu.
F10	Activate the menu bar in the active program.
RIGHT ARROW	Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
LEFT ARROW	Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
F5	Refresh the active window.
BACKSPACE	View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
ESC	Cancel the current task.
Press and hold a SHIFT key when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive	Prevent the CD from automatically playing.
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
CTRL+TAB	Move forward through tabs.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB	Move backward through tabs.
TAB	Move forward through options.
SHIFT+TAB	Move backward through options.
ALT+Underlined letter	Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option.
ENTER	Carry out the command for the active option or button.
SPACEBAR	Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box.
Arrow keys	Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.
F1	Display Help.
F4	Display the items in the active list.
BACKSPACE	Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box.
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
END	Display the bottom of the active window.
HOME	Display the top of the active window.
NUM LOCK+ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*)	Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+)	Display the contents of the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-)	Collapse the selected folder.
LEFT ARROW	Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.
RIGHT ARROW	Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder.
Help and Support keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
ALT+SPACEBAR	Display the System menu.
SHIFT+F10	Display the Help and Support shortcut menu.
ALT+TAB	Switch between the Help and Support Center and other open windows.
CTRL+TAB	Switch to the next pane.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB	Switch to the previous pane.
UP ARROW	Move up one item in the  Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
DOWN ARROW	Move down one item in the Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
PAGE UP	Move up one page in the Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
PAGE DOWN	Move down one page in the Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
F6	Switch focus between the different panes in Help and Support Center.
UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW	Scroll through a topic.
CTRL+HOME	Move to the beginning of a topic.
CTRL+END	Move to the end of a topic.
CTRL+A	Select all text in a pane.
CTRL+P	Print a topic.
ALT+LEFT ARROW	Move back to the previously viewed topic.
ALT+RIGHT ARROW	Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic.
ALT+F4	Close Help and Support Center.

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 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 Add or Remove Operating System features in Windows 7

This how-to article details how to add or remove operating system features in Windows 7. This can be useful if there are features unnecessarily installed in Windows 7, or if there are features missing or required.

1. Click on the Start button in the bottom left, then choose Control Panel.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Click on Programs  on the bottom left.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click on Turn Windows features on or off and allow or grant permission if prompted.
   
   
   
   
   
4. To remove an unwanted Windows feature, uncheck the box next to it and click OK.
5. To add a feature, check the box next to it and click OK.
   
   
   
   
   

How to add a User Account in Windows 7

This article details how to add a limited user or administrator account to a Windows 7 system. This can be useful when adding users to the system and will allow each of them to have their own customizable interface.

1. Log on to an administrator account.
NOTE: If unsure which is an administrator account, follow the next two steps.
2. Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen.
   
   
   
   
   
3. In the Search Programs and Files box, type Add user.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click on the Add or remove user accounts option at the top.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Click on Create User Account in the middle of the newly opened screen.
   
   
   
   NOTE: If this option is not available, that means the account that is in use is a limited user account.
   
6. Enter the name for the account (usually the name of the user, but it can be whatever is preferred.)
   
   
   
   
   
7. Select Standard User or Administrator. Read the criteria on the page to determine which should be used.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Click on Create Account in the bottom right.
   
   
   
9. The Account is now created. If a password is desired, click on the newly created account.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Click on Create a Password and fill in the information.
    
    
    
    
    

How to Open Elevated Command Prompt with Administrator Privileges in Windows 7

Certain tasks in Windows require running Command Line commands with administrator privileges. In order to do this, you need to be able to elevate the command prompt to administrator privileges. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Click on Start, then All Programs, then Accessories.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Right-click on Command Prompt.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click on Run as administrator.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Now you should get a command line prompt, allowing you to run text commands with administrator privileges.
   
   
   
   
   

How to Run System Restore in Safe Mode

This article shows how to run a system restore in safe mode. This is useful if there is a new infection on the computer, if it is not able to boot in to windows normally or for various other reasons. System Restore does not change any of your files, however any programs installed since the date and time that the computer will be restored to will need to be reinstalled.

1. Completely power down the computer; do not restart it yet.

2. Locate the F8 key on the keyboard:
 

3. Turn the computer on and repeatedly tap the F8 key on the keyboard at a rate of about twice per second, until the “Windows Advanced Boot Options” screen appears. If it fails to appear and the computer boots in to Windows, turn the computer off and try again.

 
4.Use the arrow keys to highlight "Safe Mode" on the list and press Enter.

5. Wait a few minutes as Safe Mode loads.
If Safe Mode fails to load, it indicates deep Operating System issues. It would be recommended at this point to take the computer in to your local Micro Center store or look in to a System Recovery to wipe out the system and restore it to the factory settings.

6. Once Safe Mode loads and an account is chosen, a prompt will appear based on your version of Windows:
    - Windows XP – A Yes/No window will appear. Click 'No' to launch System Restore. Skip to step 10.
    - Windows Vista/7 – A "What Is Safe Mode" box appears. Close this window and proceed.

7. In the bottom left corner of the screen, click on the Start button and then choose All Programs.

8. On the All Programs menu, locate the Accessories folder.

9. Within the Accessories folder, locate the System Tools folder and click System Restore, then wait a few minutes as the program opens.

10. Look at the recommended restore point and determine if the computer was working properly at that time. If it was, click on Next. If not, check the "Choose A Different Restore Point" option.
Note: The System Restore may look slightly different based on the Operating System in use.

11. On the next screen, verify that the settings are correct and click Finish to start the restore process. It may take upwards of 20 minutes to complete and will reboot one or more times during the restore process.