More Computer Hints and Tips - Jan 12 2009
Introduction
This document covers in a little more detail the topics introduced at the Carefree Computer Group meeting held on 12 Jan 2009. The principal subjects included:
How to install a PDF printer
How to deal with a lost Internet connection.
How to install a PDF printer
You have just created a formatted document using MS Word, or MS Excel, and now you want to share it with other people. What happens if those people do not have the MS Office Suite installed on their computers? They may have other word processing software, like MS Works, a lighter program that may not be able to handle your document. Some of your formatting and font colors may not show up, lessening the impact of your document. Don’t worry, PDF to the rescue!
PDF stands for ‘Portable Document File’ and is so-called because it can take a text or picture file of any format (Word - .doc; Excel - xls; Photos - .jpg, .bmp, etc.) and convert it into a universally readable document. You need to convert your document to a PDF file before you send it out to other people. Everyone can download a free version of Adobe Reader from the Internet. Note that simply having Adobe Reader installed on your computer will not allow you to create a PDF file. To do this using an Adobe product you must purchase software called Acrobat. Adobe is the name usually associated with PDF files but there are other software companies that produce free, simple to install, PDF conversion programs. Bullzip.com is one of those companies.
Click here to go to their website.
Once you have installed your ‘PDF printer’ you can use it in the same way as your usual printer, except that it will not ‘print’ your document on paper. It will save it on your computer as a .pdf file in any place you choose. Now you can safely ‘attach’ it to an e-mail and send it to anyone you wish, knowing that they will certainly be able to read it in its entire formatted splendor! If you or your readers want a paper copy of the pdf document, it is just a matter of printing it on the usual default printer.
How to make the most of your computer sound system
If you enjoy listening to streaming audio stations on your computer you can greatly enhance the sound output by using external speakers. Two very compact ‘tweeters’ will provide the higher frequency responses, while a larger ‘sub-woofer’ brings up your bass notes. Inside the sub-woofer case is usually an amplifier that requires a small power supply. The overall effect is amazing. You won’t believe the difference in listening to any kind of audio with external speakers.
(Demonstration)
Click here to go to a website that discusses ways to help you decide what to buy.
How to deal with a lost Internet connection
If you lose your Internet connection it will generally happen when you really need to connect! Assuming that it was working properly before, there are three lost-signal recovery situations that will be addressed here:
You are using your modem to provide a direct cable connection to the Internet.
You are using your own wireless router (connected directly to your modem by an ‘Ethernet’ cable), or a wireless modem.
You are connecting to the Internet by using an external signal, such as the Carefree clubhouse wi-fi, or perhaps your neighbor’s signal.
To get back your connection, follow the steps below that apply to your situation.
Situation 1: (Modem only.)
Check that the modem has power and all the usual lights are illuminated.
Check the Ethernet cable is connected securely at your modem and at the computer. (It looks like a large telephone cable connection.)
You should notice that the LAN icon in the lower, right corner of your computer screen (2 small monitors, or TV screens) has a red cross on it. Right click on the icon and click Repair. Your computer will go through several steps before telling you that (a) it has now connected, or (b) the reason why it could not connect.
If it did not connect, remove the black power plug from the back of the modem for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This will allow the modem to re-establish a connection with your Internet Service Provider. Once all the lights have finished cycling, you may find your LAN icon has lost the red cross and you can reach the Internet.
If you still cannot get an Internet connection, reboot your computer and try again.
Situation 2: (Using a modem and a wireless router, or just a wireless modem.)
In this case the Wireless icon in the lower, right corner of your computer screen (1 small monitor, or TV screen) has a red cross on it. Right click on the icon and click Repair. Your computer will go through several steps before telling you that (a) it has now connected, or (b) the reason why it could not connect.
If it did not connect, remove the black power plug from the back of the wireless router for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Once all the lights have finished cycling, you may find your Wireless icon has lost the red cross and you can reach the Internet.
If it did not connect, and you have a separate modem, remove the black power plug from the back of the modem for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This will allow the modem to re-establish a connection with your Internet Service Provider. Once all the lights have finished cycling, you may find your Wireless icon has lost the red cross and you can reach the Internet.
If you still cannot get an Internet connection, reboot your computer and try again.
Situation 3: (Using an external wi-fi signal.)
Right click on your Wireless icon and click on View Available Wireless Networks. This will show the strengths of all available wireless signals and whether they are public or encrypted, i.e. coded for private use only. (If you use other software to connect to a wireless signal, such as Network Magic, use that to view the available networks.) If you have the encryption key to connect to a private signal, you can try to connect to that signal.
If you still cannot connect to the Internet, right click on the Wireless icon and click Repair. Your computer will go through several steps before telling you that (a) it has now connected, or (b) the reason why it could not connect.
If you still cannot get an Internet connection, reboot your computer and try again.
You can generally fix your lost connection using one of these three solutions.
That’s all for this time, and don’t forget to give your computer a regular, good clean-up using some of the software I have discussed at previous meetings.
Dave Clark