Dear Computer Lady,

Charlotte

Dear Charlotte,

Since Windows 7 is a little bit faster and leaner than Vista, you probably do have the hardware needed to upgrade your Vista Computer to Windows 7, however, you will have to purchase Windows 7 first.

I looked around online and found that even the upgrade version of Windows 7 is just over a hundred dolars, so the question I would have to ask, is do you need to upgrade from Vista to 7?

The differences between Windows Vista and Windows 7 are small. Most of the time when I am using a computer that has either one or the other, I can’t tell unless I look at the computer properties which operating system I am working with.

If you are experiencing problems with Vista, upgrading to Windows 7 without first formatting (erasing) your hard drive will probably just import those problems into Windows 7 with you. A better solution in this case would be to have a clean install of Vista done on your computer.

If I was using a computer with Vista, and thinking about upgrading to Windows 7, I would ask myself the following questions.

1. Will my computer support Windows 7? (Microsoft has a list of hardware requirements and even a little program you can download and run to determine if your computer will support 7)

2. Do I have have an issue that needs Windows 7 to fix it?

Elizabeth

3. Am I having problems that are just going to be carried over when I upgrade to Windows 7?

Thank You, Joan

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Operating System: Windows 7 / Windows Vista / Windows XP

Dear Joan,

I have a few suggestions for you to try. While there is no actual keyboard shortcut for a new folder in Vista (There is in Windows 7) there are a number of ways to make the process of creating a new folder easier.

First, if you are using an explorer window (even if you are creating a shortcut on your desktop, you can view it in an explorer window quite easily)
Just click on, “Organize” in the command bar, then click on “New Folder” which is the first option under the Organize button.

Second, you can use your keyboard to navigate the context menu that you have described.

Right-Click to display the context menu, then using the arrow keys on your keyboard, press the down arrow repeatedly until you have highlighted the “New” menu, the press the right arrow key once to open the submenu. “Folder” should automatically be highlighted, but you can use the up or down arrow keys to highlight it, if needed. When “Folder” is highlighted, just press the “Enter” key on your keyboard to select it.

You can use the arrow keys to navigate any menu in windows this way, it is often easier than hovering with the mouse.

To get to your desktop folder, just click on “Start”, then type the word “Desktop” in the search box.

Press the down arrow key until the desktop folder is highlighted, then press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.

For those readers who are already using Windows 7, there is a handy keyboard shortcut that you can use to create a new folder. First, click once in the location where you want your new folder to be, even if it is the desktop. Then, just hold down the Shift and Ctrl keys (located in the lower-left corner of your keyboard) and tap the letter N.
A new folder will instantly appear.

Elizabeth

It’s Your Turn: What do you think?
…. Share your experience in the comments box below.

Is there a way to set this preference? Amy

Dear Amy,

Yes, there is a way to set the default view to “Details” or any of the other viewing options. Here is how to do that in Windows 7.

1. Open any folder on your computer, and make sure the view is set the way you want it. In this case, we are using “Details”, which is my favorite view as well.

2. Click on the “Organize” tab in the command bar, and click on “Folder and Search Options” in the drop down menu.

3. Click on the “View” tab in the folder options dialog box.

4. Click on the “Apply to Folders” button in the “Folder views” section.

5. Click the “OK” button at the bottom of the dialog box to save your changes and close the window.

The same directions should work for Windows Vista.
Windows XP is similar, just click on “Tools” in the menu bar, then click on “Folder Options”.

Elizabeth

It’s Your Turn: What do you think?
…. Share your experience in the comments box below.

Cordially, John from York

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Dear John,

Congratulations on running your computer for 6 years without any major problems! If you have been running the same installation of Windows for 6 years, a little bit of slowdown is to be expected, but if this is the only problem you are having, it is something you can get fixed.

First, lets look at what is causing the slowdown. When you first got your laptop, it had a fresh installation of Windows, and it ran the way it was supposed to. Over time, you have used the computer, made changes to it, and started it up then shut it down hundreds of times. Occasionally, small mistakes are bound to happen. Over time, these mistakes build up, and cause your computer to either slow down, or sometimes features will stop working completely. Many computer techs refer to this as, software rot.

Software rot can only be fixed by doing a clean install of Windows. You need to reformat (erase) the hard drive and then install Windows and all your programs. Your Toshiba laptop either has a set of recovery disks, or a special recovery program on the hard drive that will erase the hard drive and put the computer back in the same condition it was in when you first bought it. Then all you need to do is install all the windows updates, set your email back up, and restore the files that you backed up. This is a service that I frequently do for my customers.

There is one other thing that could be slowing your computer down that might not be fixed by a clean install of Windows. That is the amount of RAM you have installed on your computer. When your computer was new, the amount of RAM that you had was probably sufficient to run current programs like your antivirus, and updated versions of your web browser. 6 years later, however, your RAM is probably nowhere near what it should be to run these programs. You can upgrade your RAM, but you have to check first to see what your model of laptop uses for RAM and what the maximum amount of RAM it will support is.

Once you have figured out what upgrading the RAM and doing a clean install of Windows will cost you, then you can make a decision about fixing this laptop or purchasing a new one.

Elizabeth

I have a Dell pc, Vista Home premium system. My question or problem is:

Thanks in advance.
A long time subscriber,
Cheryl

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Dear Cheryl,

One of the new features of Windows Vista was a toolbar that changes depending on what the contents of the folder are. The way it is supposed to work, is that if a folder contains pictures the toolbar has commands for working with pictures. If a folder contains contacts, the toolbar should have commands for working with contacts. It is a good feature… when it works. Unfortunately, Vista seems to have a habit of forgetting what kind of content it is working with. This seems to be a somewhat common problem with windows Vista. I have not seen it as much in Windows 7.

Fortunately, you can change the settings for the folder back to the correct type. Here is how:

1. Click on “Start”.
2. Click on your user name at the top of the right column.
3. A window will open that contains all of your user folders. Your Contacts folder will be in this window.
4. Right click on your “Contacts” folder, and click on “Properties” in the context menu.
5. The Properties dialog box will open. Click on the “Customize” tab.
6. The top section under the “Customize” tab asks you what kind of folder you want.
7. Click on the drop down list and click to select “Contacts”.
8. Click the “OK” button at the bottom of the window to save your changes and close the dialog box.

These directions will work in Windows 7 as well, but the available options are only Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos.

Elizabeth

I have lap top with Window Vista installed.

Best regards, Prem

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Dear Prem,

You should be able to put the recycle bin back on your desktop, and even if you can’t display the recycle bin, you can still delete files. Just click on the file you want to delete, then press the “Del” key on your keyboard. Here is how to put the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.

1. Right Click on a blank spot on your desktop, and click, “Personalize” in the context menu that appears.
2. In the Desktop Personalization window that appears, click on the link in the left-hand column that says, “Change Desktop Icons”.
3. A smaller dialog box will appear with a list of icons that you can have displayed on the desktop. Click to put a check mark in front of “Recycle Bin” and then click the “OK” button at the bottom of the dialog box to save your changes.
4. The Recycle Bin should now be displayed on your desktop.

If there are no icons showing on your desktop, right click again on the desktop, point to “View” and see if there is a check mark in front of “Show Desktop Icons”. If there is no check mark, click on “Show Desktop Icons” to turn the setting on.

If your installation of Windows is working correctly, this should fix your missing Recycle Bin problem.

Elizabeth

Thanks, Gloria

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Dear Gloria,

Your computer is looking for a password reset disk. The bad news is, that unless you created one before you were unable to get into your computer, it is too late to make one now.

Everyone who has a Vista or Windows 7 computer should create a password reset disk and keep it in a safe place, even if you are not currently using a password. Get yourself a small USB flash drive, and then follow the directions below to create a password reset disk:

1. Click on “Start”, then click on “Control Panel” on the right side of the start menu.

2. In the Control Panel, click on “User Accounts and Family Safety”.

3. Click on “User Accounts”.
OR
4. You can replace the first three steps by clicking on “Start”, then click on the small picture at the top of the right side of the Start Menu.

5. In the left pane of the User Accounts window, click the link that says, “Create a password reset disk”.

6. The Forgotten Password Wizard will open. Read the information, and click “Next”.

7. Make sure your USB device is selected in the next window, and click “Next”.

8. In the next window, type your current password if you have one, if you don’t have one, leave it blank.

9. Click “Next”.

10. The Wizard will now create the disk, when it is done, click “Next”.

11. Read the information in the last window, then click the “Finish” button.

Be sure to store your new password reset disk in a secure location. Remember that anyone can use it to change your password.

Gloria, if you did not make a reset disk for your computer, you will need to take your laptop to a local computer shop. If you live in my area, I can reset the password for you without losing any data. Your only other option would be to use your Windows 7 disk to re-install Windows 7.

Elizabeth

Thanks, Gram

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Dear Gram,

When you are typing in a word processing program like Word, your cursor becomes an, “insertion point”.

You can change several characteristics of the insertion point in the Control Panel. Here is how:

1. Click on “Start” then click on “Control Panel”.

2. In the Control Panel window, click on “Ease of Access”.

3. In the Ease of Access window, click on, “Optimize Visual Display”.

4. Scroll down and find the section that allows you to set the thickness of the blinking cursor.

5. Use the drop down list to select a number for the thickness, try a 3 or 4 to start.

6. Click the “OK” button at the bottom of the window to close the window and save your changes.

Elizabeth

Dear Computer Lady,

Thanks, Gram

Dear Gram,

When you are typing in a word processing program like Word, your cursor becomes an, “insertion point”. You can change several characteristics of the insertion point in the Control Panel. Here is how:

1. Click on “Start” then click on “Control Panel”.

2. In the Control Panel window, click on “Ease of Access”.

3. In the Ease of Access window, click on, “Optimize Visual Display”.

4. Scroll down and find the section that allows you to set the thickness of the blinking cursor.

5. Use the drop down list to select a number for the thickness, try a 3 or 4 to start.

6. Click the “OK” button at the bottom of the window to close the window and save your changes.

Elizabeth

Thanks, Jo

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Dear Jo,

Windows Vista does not store your contacts in the Address Book program that was used in earlier versions of Windows. Instead, it uses the “Contacts ” folder, which is very easy to back up to a thumb drive or other removable media. Here is how:

1. Insert your thumb drive, and when the AutoPlay dialog box appears, click on “Open folder to view files”.

2. Move the folder for your thumb drive off to the side of your desktop.

3. Click on the “Start Orb” and then click on your user name at the top of the right column in the start menu.

4. Arrange your two open folders so you can see the contents of each folder.

5. Using your mouse, drag the “Contacts” folder from your user window to the thumb drive window.

6. As soon as you release the mouse button, the entire folder will be copied to your thumb drive.

It really is an easy process, and can be repeated every time you add new contacts.

In addition to backing up my files to a removable device like a thumb drive, I also use an online backup service to automatically back up my files whenever I change them or create new ones. Since my files are backed up online, they are safe from theft or damage in a fire or flood. You can try Carbonite for 15 days at:

Elizabeth