Saturday, August 27, 2011

CUSTOMER SERVICE ~ TECH SUPPORT HELP

No doubt all of us have tried to call the customer service or tech support departments in any number of companies, only to waste time listening to music we don’t like and waiting to be told which button to push to continue on thru a maze of other numbers in the hopes of maybe getting thru to a live person that can help us…

Next time, before you make that call, you might want to check out these two websites, that can help you to maneuver thru these mazes. Both of these websites, list the correct phone numbers for countless companies and they also will give you the correct button sequences to get you through to a live person much more quickly.

The websites are:

Get Human - www.gethuman.com

Dial A Human - www.dialahuman.com

Before you make that call - also consider another option "Instant Messaging" that is offered by many companies directly on their websites. Yes, many companies today offer us the ability to “instant message their customer service and or tech support personnel” directly from their companies website..

If this is an option, try it. Most of us find this much more effective than waiting on the telephone - because you can converse "via typing" back and forth with this individual.. I also like this because I can then highlight our conversation - copy it - and save it in my PC Problem folder that I've created in My Documents for reference in the future...

Instant messaging also allows you the option to immediately attach documents that they can read - so you can scan in a document you might want them to see and then attach it during your "instant messaging conversation" or if it's a computer problem – this option also allows you the ability to “take a picture of what’s on your monitor” by using the CTRL + PRNT SCREEN Key and then pasting the photo in word and saving it in a PC problem folder you’ve created, so that while you are “talking/instant messaging the tech support person, you can attach the document that will show him/her the problem or error message you are getting…

Technology can be frustrating, but if you know what to do you can use it all to your advantage..

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Hello from the Mohave Community College Library

Greetings from Hodel Library on the Lake Havasu Campus of Mohave Community College!

It’s still too hot to spend much time outside here in Lake Havasu, so come by the Library to check out a book or audio book to enjoy inside. No matter where you are, you can always visit our website at Mohave.edu/library to take a look at some of the great databases we have to offer. You can look at Consumer Reports and many other popular magazines for free.

Just call me (Wendi) at 928-453-5809 or email me at wbirkhead@mohave.edu and I can explain to you how to access the databases (it’s easy – I promise!). Or, you can come on by and visit with us in person at Mohave Community College at 1977 Acoma Blvd. West (we’re located toward the back of the campus, not far from the 500 Building). Remember, the Hodel Library is open to everyone!

So please feel free to call us if you have any questions - again our number is 928-453-5809 and of course we hope you will come by and visit with us in person.. or email me directly at wbirkhead@mohave.edu. Let us know how we can help.

Enjoy what's left of your summer and for all our winter residents, safe travles and we can't wait for your return to the MCC Campus and Lake Havasu City...

Wendi Birkhead, MLSCampus Librarian

Hodel Library - Lake Havasu City Campus
Mohave Community College
1977 W. Acoma Blvd, LHC, AZ 86403
Tel 928-453-5809
Fax 928-453-8335
Toll Free: 1.866.664.2832
wbirkhead@mohave.edu or www.mohave.edu/library

Friday, August 19, 2011

Windows Explorer-The computers filing cabinet

Windows Explorer is an application software program available in all Windows Operating Systems that allows you to find anything on your computer.

To me, Windows Explorer is like looking at various file cabinets and what's in those file cabinet drawers to find everything I've saved on my computer.. It allows us to to easily copy documents, photos, music, videos from one folder to another or to back up my folders onto a flash drive or portable hard drive..

Windows Explorer is typically listed in the Program list under Accessories, but for the easiest access no matter what program you are in, just use your keyboard shortcut:
Windows Flag Key + E .

When you use Windows Explorer, you can see all the documents stored on your computer (or your network), which makes it easy to select documents, folders, travel drives, digital cameras portable hard drives to work with them.

Windows Explorer uses the same “folder system” you would in a “filing cabinet”. Folders and sub-folders are "containers" to store documents (files). The folders that Windows creates for you are named My Documents, My Music, My Pictures & My Videos. They get their names from the fact that you use them as follows:

My Documents: Use this folder to store other types of documents you save, such as typed text or spreadsheets



  • My Music: Use this folder to store music you copy to your computers

  • My Pictures: Use this folder to store pictures, such as those you get from a camera or scanner, or from the Internet

  • My Videos: Use this folder to store videos, such as those you get from a video camera, emails or from the Internet

In Windows XP and older operating systems you will see that you must open the My Documents drawer to see the other master folders, such as My Music, My Pictures, My Scans, My Videos...

In Windows Vista and Windows 7 Operating Systems, the Master folder is called a Library and in that you will find each of the individual master folders, including My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, My Scans, My Videos..

For those of you using MAC’s – you now have Macintosh Explorer – check it out at www.ragesw.com/products/explorer.html


Monday, August 15, 2011

CTRL + F - Keyboard shortcut to find specific words

By now, most of you know how much I enjoy using “Keyboard Shortcuts” which make doing certain functions a little easier - and I like easy - but they do allow us to give a command and get results quickly and easily…

To me CTRL + F is one of those keyboard shortcuts that I think you will use as often as I do, which is “all the time”

Most of us spend time looking for documents or other things on our computer because we can’t remember what we named them – but we do remember words specific in that document – report, spreadsheet, letter – whatever… Well if you haven’t tried this keyboard shortcut before – give it a try…

This great keyboard shortcut works in almost every application (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power Point, with all major browsers, Notepad, Word Pad and many other application software programs... Simply type the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + F (F for Find) to find a word or series of characters.

Give it a try right now while you are on the internet—search for the word “keyboard” in the next section.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Surf the Internet and use some favorite shortcuts

Just a few reminders to use some of the "basic" keystrokes & keyboard shortcuts so that when you are surfing the Internet - it will be easier and more enjoyable.....



  • "F5" REFRESH KEY – using this function key will “reconnect" you to a website to update all the information

  • "F11” FUNCTION KEY – (or Menu Bar, View, FULL SCREEN)- This is a “toggle button/key” so you can go back and forth for Full Screen which CONDENSES your toolbar at the top OR Normal Screen with All Toolbars at top and Task Bar at bottom…

  • CTRL AND + OR – KEYS – Allow you to quickly and easily enlarge the screen when you are on the Internet OR use the Zoom Icon/drop down menu on the status bar at the bottom of your screen or go to your Command Bar, Page and Zoom-and change the size there - remember this doesn't change text size, it simply magnifies whats on your monitor when you are on the Internet so that it is easier to read..

  • CTRL PLUS LEFT CLICKING THE “HYPERLINK” YOU WANT TO OPEN – this allows you to leave the page you are on open and it forces open another new tab so you toggle between both websites

  • TABBING & FAVORITES/BOOKMARKS – these features allow you to easily multi-task and toggle from one website to another without having to “sign in” repeatedly and to visit websites you visit often

Sunday, August 7, 2011

When you can't cancel a print job..

From time to time there will be print jobs that just won’t seem to delete no matter how we try to cancel or delete the print job - whether we try to cancel:

• By using the cancel on the printer OR

• From the Printer in the Start Menu OR

• Using the Printer Icon & Menu from the system try (bottom right corner of the monitor above the clock)

Don’t panic – try the following – which usually corrects the problem …

In Windows XP

• Go to Control Panel

• Select Administrative Tools

• Double-click on Services (Icon is usually 2 gears)

• When the list of services appear, scroll down until you find one called "Print Spooler"

• Highlight this service option – and on the left column choose "Restart"

• The "deleted" jobs will disappear and any queued jobs in your print queue will print

In Windows Vista

• Go to Control Panel

• Select System and Maintenance

• Select Administrative Tools

• Double-click on Services

• When the service list appears, scroll down until you find one called "Print Spooler"

• Right-click on "Print Spooler" and select "Restart"

Success - the "deleted" jobs will disappear and any jobs waiting in your print queue will now print

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Annual Credit Report

This is the official website to check your credit report for free...





AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to help consumers to obtain their free credit report - You are entitled to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This free credit report can be requested through this website, by phone or by mail.

Each person is entitled to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies through the Central Source. It is entirely your choice whether you order all three credit reports at the same time or order one now and others later. The advantage of ordering all three at the same time is that you can compare them. (However, you will not be eligible for another free credit report from the Central Source for 12 months.) On the other hand, the advantage of ordering one now and others later (for example, one credit report every four months) is that you can keep track of any changes or new information that may appear on your credit report. So if you order from only one company today you can still order from the other two companies at a later date

The addresses for the credit reporting agencies are listed below:

Equifax
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, Georgia 30374

Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, Texas 75013

TransUnion
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
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