laptop

laptopB : B
LAPTOP-NOTEBOOK TIPS FOR THE PORTABLE COMPUTER

      Your portable computer doesn't have to be the poor step-child of the computing world. Afterall it cost plenty. Though there are inherent limits vis a vis a desktop, there are several things you can do to power up your machine. Portable users have one over-riding advantage. They don't have to go to their machines; their machines go with them - outside, inside, all around the house.

Table of Contents: Original Laptop Tips

01. Hardware,Drives,32-Bit
02. Software:Zip-Graphics
03. Which Drive?
04. Security
05. Shortcuts
06. Send To Portable Disk
07. Disk Garbage Bin
08. Program Installation
09. Holding Folder
10. Save Downloads
11. Squash the Pixs
12. Clean Up
13. Time Adjustments
14. Freeze Up
15. Pause the Printer
16. Re-Print
17. Reminders
18. Cool It
19. Re-Start
20. Get a Pillow
21. Sticky Trackball
22. Screen Savers
23. Display
24. Disaster
25. E-Mail
26. AOL Users
27. Modem Problems
28. Cables in General
29. Power Up
30. Organize
31. Multi-Associate
32. DOS
33. Save that Serial #
34. Trip Tips
35. Easy DOS It
36. Work the Cache
37. Get It Faster
38. Back-up Blues
39. IE4-Big Browser
40. Web Author
41. Tech Help
42. Program Overload
43. Juice up Start Menu
44. Adopt a File
45. Compress the Clutter
46. E-Mail Erasures
47. More Mail
48. Window Wiggles
49. Plus the Right Arrow
50. $oftware Upgrades

51. HTML Mail
52. Can you Scan?
53. Organized Scan
54. Super Scan
55. Cord Wrap
56. Cord Doctor
57. Can't Do Spreadsheets?
58. Scandisk Files
59. Take a Peek
60. Bigger is Better
61. Golden Oldies
62. Get an Arm
63. Tape It Up
64. Fix a Form
65. Scan for Sam
66. Shake, Rattle and Roll
67. Dead Links Revived
68. Fix Your Print
69. Force a Font
70. Sign It
71. The Name Game
72. Clipboard Times More
73. Install Target
74. Download Speed
75. Get the Free Stuff
76. Open a Blank
77. Scan Not
78. Make a Receipt
79. Eazy Checking
80. Disaster Proof
81. Mash Your Cash
82. 97 Clean Up
83. Corrupt Data Sets
84. Compress Entries
85. Exit on Cancel
86. Re-Target Shortcut
87. Idle Web Space?
88. E-Mail Cookies
89. Strip the Pix
90. Arise from the Dead
91. Web-site Wallflower?
92. Lost Dlls
93. Page After Page
94. 12 Volt
95. Year 2000 Ready
96. Get Your Hands Dirty
97. Hidden Web Sites
98. Take a Memo
99. It's in the Wash
100 Bad Disks

101 Squeezed for Space?
102 Build a Library
103 Creaky Cursor
104 Rename Readme
105 Drive by Content
106 Export Report
107 Frozen Browser
108 Software Junkie
109 Find A File
110 Get Published
111 FTP Access
112 Take it Offline
113 Forms for Sale
114 Mail a Font
115 Hold the Phone
116 Drag it Out
117 Lost Files
118 Mini-Multitask
119 Tiling
120 Help Files
121 Browser Mail Program
122 Click of Death
123 E-Mail Attachment
124 Hard-Drive Hogs
125 Anti-Virus Programs
126 Uninstallers
127 Get Tracker
128 Make a Mirror
129 Fix Zip Files
130 Homepage Multiplied
131 Printing Pixs
132 Web-Page Froze
133 Floppy on Board
134 E-Mail Links
135 Defragment-Do It More
136 Portable Drive Selection
137 No Touch Tone
138 Back-Up Programs
139 Illegal Operations
140 Get It Together
141 Stuck In Cache
142 Vanishing E-Mail
143 Lazy Button
144 Framed by AOL
145 Offline Gaming
146 AWOL Homepage?
147 Show Your File
148 AOL "Art" Files
149 Artwork of Your Own
150 Popup Slayer
Note: The links on this "Table of Contents" will work fine with Netscape 3.x and 4.x ; with Internet Explorer 4.x it works okay most of the time; with Internet Explorer 3.x, it's a good idea to remember the number of the item you are accessing because IE 3.x sometimes misses the target. Most of the above tips are for Windows95/8, but many will work with DOS and/or Windows 3.x systems too. If you are using a 16-bit browser such as AOL3.0 for Windows{not 95} or a browser that displays HTML Tables, Forms or Fonts differently [such as OPERA or VOYAGER ] , CLICK HERE for a compatible rendering of this web-site.] For a copy of "Original Laptop Tips" in PDF format, TEXT format, and HTML format

NEWEST FEATURE: Want to upgrade to Windows ME on your Laptop? Be aware of the pitfalls and how to solve common problems.
See: Laptop Tips for Windows ME          [Updated 10/18/2000]

Want to use Windows 2000 on your Laptop? Here's a safe way to do it with a few special hints for laptoppers & how AOLers can run AOL with Windows 2000.
See: Laptop Tips for Windows 2000          [Updated 08/12/2000]

Got a Problem? Try Special Laptop Tips for
Old Laptops, New Laptoppers & Troubled Portables
Updated 10/18/2000
CLICK HERE TO GET
WIN 98 TIPS FOR LAPTOPS
and many work for Desktops too
Special IE5.00 Fix for "Patch Overrun"
Hotmail/OE5.01 fix to kill THE AD BAR
Bad DLL Strikes Again! Show Doc Shame
WIN98 FOR OLD SYSTEMS Do you want WIN98 on your machine but can't have it because you have less than the required 66Mhz? Don't despair just yet. There is an unrevealed work-around to this requirement that Microsoft does not document. With the proper preparation you too can have Win98. FYI - the author of this page uses a 486DX2, 40Mhz, 20MB RAM, 250MB Hard-drive LAPTOP and installed Win98 on the first attempt after using this work-around. Click here to join the Win98 crowd. NOTE: The work-around is also valid for systems that can't meet the WinME CPU requirements. NETWORKED NOTEBOOKS If you have 2 [or more] laptops, they can be Networked to share files, printer[s] and one Internet Connection as long as one laptop runs WIN98SE. See Networking Notebooks BY SPECIAL REQUEST This feature addresses problems readers have with using common types of programs. For a list of featured items go to:
Special Request

"LAPTOP TIPS AND TRICKS" is available for FREE in standard Windows Help File format [compatible with Win3x/95/98/2000/ME]; it includes the Original Laptop Tips, Win98, Win2000 & WinME Tips for Laptops, Networked Notebook Tips & Special Laptop Tips. To obtain "Laptop.hlp" please click here.    Updated 10/18/2000

ARE LAPTOPS AND LAUGHTER COMPATIBLE? Well,why not? For a little laptop fun, leap on over to LAPTOP LAFFS . And there's some real issues that LAPTOP users have to deal with: LAPTOP DISCRIMINATION. Help stamp it out; come on over.    Updated 10/30/2000

F Partner Web Sites    E
C AXCEL216's MAX Speeed [Windows + DOS]
* Tricks * Secrets * Tips * Bugs * Fixes *

C CptSiskoX's Windows 98/NT + Modem Tricks
* Patches * Software Updates * Beta Info *

HARDWARE UPGRADES- Most useable peripherals cost $200 or less and, if you upgrade your computer in the future, most of these peripherals can work with the upgrade. Increase your memory if your machine is expandable; memory prices are low, but don't buy from the manufacturer of your computer; the catalogue outlets are usually appreciably cheaper. When you increase memory go for the maximum amount; with many laptops, previous memory expansion chips are useless when you make another upgrade. Unlike desktop computers, you usually can't "piggyback" more memory on what you already have; there is only enough space for one added chip, so get the biggest one your machine can take. Other "internal" upgrades are either not feasible or are not cost effective. A 10MHZ increase in your CPU can cost 1/3 to 1/2 as much as the original cost of your machine. Display upgrades are also not usually cost effective compared to the original purchase price of the computer.

  > A. THE HARD-DRIVE DILEMNA: There are tons of apps many of which are free, but many portables are banging the hard-drive limit. You may want the latest software, but there is little room left.

              1.] COMPRESS that hard-drive to about double its original size if yours is 250MB or less. Certain compression programs [such as Drivespace3 on Windows95 Plus] will let you run in uncompressed mode at your option when you just have to have that extra speed.

              2.] PORTABLE DRIVE - These start at $150 and just one disk holds from 100MB to 250MB. Before investing make sure you have a port that is bi-directional. The principal purpose of these drives is for backing up the hard drive, but for a portable computer with a "small" hard-drive, these portable drives are a life saver and usually daisy- chainable to a printer or scanner. You can reserve hard-drive space for your operating system and your very favourite and utilitarian programs. Banish the rest to the portable drive. Why waste precious hard-drive space on a 10-15MB program, that you use once a week or less?

32-BIT - GET IT ! If you use WIN95, toss out the somewhat clunky portable drive software to save space and get the latest 32-bit drivers. Click on "My Computer" on your desktop then select "Control Panel".When you access Control Panel/System/Performance (tab), you want to have 32-bit all the way done the line with the magic words "Your system is configured for optimal performance". This is often a matter of getting the right drivers.

: My Computer xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_
r
x

File Edit View Help

; 3 1/2 Floppy [A:] ; [C:] ; Removable Disk [D:] ; [E:] ; Host_for_c [H:] 0 Control Panel 0 Printers 0 Dial-Up Networking

8 object[s]

Select "System" from Control Panel.

0 Control Panel xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	_	r	x

File Edit View Help

;Add New Hardware 3Printers 4Add/Remove Programs >Quick Time 32 ¿Date/Time [Regional Settings pDisplay 9Sounds 0Fonts :System ËGame Controllers ÆTweak UI £Internet 7Keyboard (Modems hMouse ÎMultimedia aNetwork &Passwords nPC Card [PCMCIA] 8Power

Provides system information and changes advanced settings.

Select the "Performance" Tab.

System Properties xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	?	X

. . . ______Performance status____________________________________________________________

......... . ....Memory:. . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .20.0 MB of RAM

......... . ....System Resources: . . . . . . . .95% free

......... . ....File System:.. . . . . . . . . .. . . .32-bit

......... . ....Virtual Memory:. . .. . . . . . . . .32-bit

... . ... ......Disk Compression:. . . . . . . . .32-bit

.... . ..... ...PC Cards [PCMCIA]:. . .. . . . .32-bit

......... . ....Your system is configured for optimal performance. . ..

. . . _____________________________________________________________________________________

. . . ______Advanced settings____________________________________________________________

. . . _____________________________________________________________________________________
. . . _____________________________________________________________________________________

ü While you're checking for 32-Bit optimization, access the "File System" under Advanced Settings. In the "Typical role of this machine" option, select "Network server" rather than "mobile or docking system", unless you have a very small hard-drive:

Select "File System" in Advanced Settings.

File System Properties xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	?	X

. . .            Windows uses these settings to optimize performance of the
;      hard disk drives attached to your computer.

____ Settings___________________________________________________________________
......... . ....
                Read-ahead optimization:      None   ___________________ò Full
                                                                           |       |       |       |       |       |
               Windows will automatically read ahead when an application
                requests data sequentially in increments of up to 64 kilobytes.
             ______________________________________________________________________________
. . . _____________________________________________________________________________________

B. OTHER PERIPHERALS- Besides the ubiquitous Printer, other useful add-ons are a CD-ROM [PCMCIA type if your portable drive is on the parallel port], a modem and a scanner. With these peripherals you can have a full functioned computer system which can emulate a desktop and still maintain basic portability.

‚SOFTWARE: The sky's the limit once you have a portable drive. All that free stuff that's downloadable off the web you can try out and keep it if you like it. There are certain programs that are ideal for a portable computer and meet the "hard-drive worthy" test:

" I. A "ZIP" program. Zip up those little used files. Once you learn a program, zip up those Help and readme.txt files along with others that the program doesn't use. And delete the "gid" files. If you use Win95, go into Windows Explorer, select Tools from the Menu Bar and then select Find. Type "*.gid" [without the quotes] in the NAMED box, select "MY Computer" in the "LOOK-IN" box, make sure the "include sub-folders" is checked and press FIND NOW. When the results of the search appear, go to EDIT on the Menu Bar and choose "Select All". Now go to File on the Menu Bar and select Delete. Note: By selecting "My Computer" in the "LOOK-IN" box, you will be cleaning out the ".gid" files that might be residing on any portable disk that is currently in your portable drives.

= 1)SLIM DOWN: If you get in the habit of zipping up files which you don't need or rarely use, send the zip file off to a portable disk.

h 2)LEAVE TRACKS: Create a "txt" file in the directory where you zipped and removed the program files. Name the file "About this folder".txt and document what files were removed, when removed and where they went. Just right click on an empty space in the directory where you removed the files, select "New" and then "Text Document":
View. . . . . . . .>
Arrange Icons . . . > Line up Icons. . . . .
Paste Paste Shortcut Undo Rename
New. . . . . . . . .>
Properties

Folder
Shortcut. . . . .
Bitmap Image Wordpad Document Internet Document[HTML] WinZip File
Text Document
Lotus 1-2-3 Spreadsheet

II. An "IMAGE CONVERTER" program. There are several full blown and free graphics programs, but they can take a lot of space and take time to open. Often they are best used from a portable disk. For the hard disk, download a small and free, IMAGE COVERTER program that unzips to about 1/2MB. Use this program to compress those fat bmp, wmf, and pcx files into gif and/or jpg formats. You will save a lot of byte space and your pixs will be homepage ready if you're a web author. You can always re-convert the files into the old format if you need to.

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