Ctrl-Shift-T = Best Keyboard Shortcut Ever!

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A while ago we posted on our FaceBook page a quick shortcut to get a closed tab back in a browser (Ctrl+Shift+t).
That post seems to have the most feedback and interest of any that we posted.  Though it may have been known by a few, not a lot of our subscribers knew of it and were glad that to find out about it.
I personally can tell you I use that shortcut numerous times a day.  With 3 different browsers open at once with at least 10 tabs each going, I surely close tabs by accident all day long.  Even when I go to print a shipping label that popped up in a different tab and than close the tab after I hit print I can hit Ctrl+Shift+t and reopen it if it didn’t print correctly or had a paper jam.  And I have given that tip out over the phone to customers that call because they closed their browser or tab and didn’t save something or cannot recall where they just were.

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So I began to think, what other shortcuts are regular everyday tools that we use?  Most of the time we take them for granted.  I just know I use them and think everyone else must use them too.  And a lot of them most people know.   So let us know what Keyboard shortcuts you like to use.

 

 

4 Reason Why Your Computer Slows Down & What You Can Do to Prevent It

Is your Computer running slow or slowing down?

  

We are going to shed some light on the
top 4 reasons why your computer slows down and let you know what you can do to prevent them

Computer Running Slow?
Computer Running Slow?

 

1.      Virus and Spyware Infections

Today our computers are connected to the internet 24 x 7.  The major threats that infect our computers are malware programs such as viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware and adware.  These malicious programs creep into our systems via unprotected internet connections, spam email, infected external media as well as other sources. Typically once this happens we start to notice PC errors and a severe drop in the overall performance of our computers.  It may even become impossible to use the computer at all. 
To prevent these malicious programs it is essential to keep an antivirus running on the computer.  The antivirus should be scheduled to run and update on a regular basis to ensure protection against the latest viruses.

2.      Too Many Startup Programs

When we first purchase a new computer, some folks may not be aware, but it is loaded with programs we probably will never use or need; to add to that, we take it home and plug it in and then start to install our own programs.  Many times when we install programs they add their shortcuts to the startup list so that some of their services load in the background (yes where we cannot see or know it is happening) when the PC is started.  These programs eat up our computers resources and cause the system to slow down.  We recommend disabling unwanted start up programs. 
To do this: Windows System Configuration Utility (Run — >msconfig –> Startup).  

3.      Filled Up and Fragmented Hard Disk

Surfing the web is great.  We learn and find so many interesting things but we also create a lot of temporary internet files/orphaned files. This discarded data unnecessarily fills up the hard disk and causes data fragmentation.
To prevent these problems, we must uninstall unwanted programs from the system and use the Disk Cleanup utility to get rid of all unwanted files and folders.

4.      Insufficient System Memory

As we install new programs and more high-end software on our PC’s and laptops, the hardware requirements of the system increase. This is the reason why, to speed up our PC’s it may be necessary to upgrade the system requirements. By doing this, we can considerably enhance the performance of our PC’s by increasing the system memory or RAM.

Slow Work Progress

Computer Running Slow – Try a ReBoot

Computer acting all Wonky?  Try Rebooting / Restart

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Did you reboot?  I cannot even begin to tell you how crazy that statement used to make me.

I am sure we all have heard (& continue to hear) time and again and we just could not understand why the person we called could not fix the issue but instead asked us if we rebooted or tells us to reboot our computer.  I mean really, I called YOU to help me fix the issue (slow computer, frozen screens, software acting all wacky, etc) and all you can tell me to reboot?  Well now I am here to tell ya, it is truly the easiest fix and should be the first thing you try before you call someone.

From Webopedia:

To restart a computer. In DOS, you can reboot by pressing the Alt, Control and Delete keys simultaneously.
This is called a warm boot. You can also perform a cold boot by turning the computer off and then on again.

On a PC running Microsoft Windows you reboot by selecting the “Shut Down” option from the Start menu.
On Macs, you reboot by selecting the “Restart” option from the Special menu.

Okay truth be told, even I hate to reboot.  I am right there with you on this: I am in the middle of a spreadsheet with PowerPoint open and 9 tabs on my Firefox along with 2 tabs on my IE and I am trying to get something done in a hurry… I have no time to reboot (read I have no patience to reboot).   I am frustrated and I just want the issues corrected.  Screaming at my computer that it’s old, slow and well you get the idea.  The first thing that Vin will ask me is, “When is the last time you rebooted”?  In which case I usually think for a moment and then realize I have no idea so it must have been weeks.  Ugh, now I need to close it all down and give my computer a break so it can restart fresh.

Here’s the deal.  Your computer, from time to time, needs a hard reboot.  Think of it as a great time to go refill your coffee cup, take a quick walk, and play with the dogs.  Get up walk away and let the thing reboot.  If you’re like me, it is likely your computer needs to install some updates (you know that pesky pop up that you keep hitting not now or later when it appears) or your Web browser needs some updating.  Either way, your computer needs a break.  Generally, 90% of the time, the reboot will fix any issues you may have been having.

fiA1S

By letting you computer reboot you will get it all current and it will run smoother, faster and more efficiently (even when you have a spreadsheet with PowerPoint open and 9 tabs on your Firefox along with 2 tabs on IE and you are trying to get something done in a hurry).

And if that doesn’t work, give us a call – you probably just need a clean-up.

 

Rebooting is a wonder drug – it fixes almost everything.  ~Garrett Hazel, “Help Desk Blues,” 2002