HELP Menu and Troubleshooting
This
is a re-make of the April, 2000, topic for the FHF Computer Club. Many people
want help, and have questions. Hopefully this newsletter will provide useful
information on those items.
Please
bring specific questions and experiences to the meeting Monday, June 16, 7:00PM
at the clubhouse. It may also be helpful if you have a printout of this
newsletter.
Please
offer suggestions on how newsletters or the meetings can be more effective in
meeting your needs, the needs of the computer community, and the needs of FHF
residents.
What
specific topics do you want to see in future newsletters?
Learning
Learn about computers and computer programs. See the “Education” page on the FHF web site.
Troubleshooting
The
best defense is a good offense. Stop problems before they can start. Know your
computer, how it functions, and what care and feeding it requires.
Take
a class, buy a book, and read tips on how the operating system or a particular
software application or hardware item works.
"(name)
for Dummies" is a popular set of book for operating systems and
applications.
I
am using a Microsoft "Step by Step" book to learn FrontPage 2000. I
find the book easy to read. It actually lives up to its title and gives
step-by-step directions on how to perform functions. These step-by-step
directions are often missing or are summarized in other books.
This
web site has lists you can subscribe to, for free. You will receive a daily
email with a tip on the list subject.
OK,
you've taken a class, read a book, and read daily tips, and you still have a
problem. What can you do next? All Windows applications (don't recall Mac
applications) have a "Help" topic in the menu bar at the top of the
window. This newsletter is being written in Microsoft Word. If you left-click
on the Help topic, and chose "Microsoft Word Help", you will see a
list of common questions.
If
you don't see what you are having a problem with, there is a box where you can
enter a question and left-click on "search". I typed "how do I
get help" and I received a list of help topics. I left-clicked on the
round button to the left of a topic and was taken to information on that topic.
If
you left-click on the Help topic and choose "contents and index",
you can choose from three tabs, by left-clicking on the name on the tab.
When you left-click on
"contents", you will see a list of topics.
When you
double-left-click on a topic, such as "opening, creating, and saving
documents", you have a more detailed list of topics. You can then
double-left-click on the sub-topic, such as "opening documents" and
get a list of help items.
Double-left-clicking
on the help item such as "open a document" will bring up a new window
with a list of "what do you want to do" questions.
When
you double-left-click on a question such as "open a document on your hard
drive or a network", you will be given a window with detailed directions.
If
you left-click on the Help topic, choose "contents and index", then
choose "index", you can type a word that best describes your
quest for help. Left-click on the sub-topic, such as "office
assistant" and then left-click on "display". You will be shown
information on that sub-topic.
If
you left-click on the Help topic, choose "contents and index", then
choose "find", you can type a word that best describes your
quest for help. Left-click on the sub-topic, such as "office
assistant" and then left-click on "display". You will be shown
information sections that contain the word you are searching for. In section
three of the help window, left-click a topic and then left-click
"display".
You now know of three different ways you can search for help on a broad range of subjects, using the "Help" on the menu bar: Contents, Index, and Find.
Other
methods of troubleshooting:
1.
Check for power to the device. Is there an indicator light on, to show that the
device has power?
2.
If the problem is an external device, remove and reconnect the cable between
the computer and that device.
3.
If the problem is with a printer, is there paper in the printer? Is the ink
cartridge out of ink? Example: I printed a web page and saw only part of the
information. There was scattered information around the page. It took a while
to realize that I was seeing the colored areas of the web page but not the
black areas of the web page. I used the printer utility to clean the printer
cartridge, and then the web page printed correctly.
4.
Did you make a change recently? Usually, things "break" after changes
are made. Identify what changed. Reverse the change, if possible, and see if
the problem still exists.
5.
Often the problem disappears by rebooting the computer. Choose
"start", then "shut down", and then "restart the
computer". Make sure that all data is saved before rebooting with this
procedure.
Club Mission
What is our purpose of our club?
Mission Statement. The purpose of the FHF Computer Group is to
bring together residents with an interest in technology for the purpose of
sharing information and assisting each other in learning about computers and
related subjects.
Expectations
The
person in "Overheard", below, has unrealistic expectations when it
comes to computers. Computers are not "plug and play" devices.
Let’s
Talk Computers
A
NOTE TO NEW MEMBERS
Overheard
I
went to the "Lets Talk Computer’s" group last week and it was way
over my head. I don’t think I’ll go back anymore. What I want is to be able to
turn on my computer and have it do what I want it to do. I want to write an
occasional letter. Maybe to two people, maybe four, maybe to all my friends, at
Christmas time I’ll send it to everybody. That’s all I want to be able to do. I
might try it again next week.
Maybe!
(London
Computer Club comments follow)
If
they came back and attended a few meetings, their thoughts might change. They
would realize that there is a thing called E-mail that would make it possible
to send letters to others who have computers with E-mail addresses in a matter
of seconds at no cost. Also send pictures after you know how to use a scanner.
What’s a scanner? Stick around and you will find out. Just ask! After that what
happens? Maybe I want to keep track of my bank account balance, my stocks, and
(portfolio) if you have more than one stock. Genealogy. If you are curious as
to your roots, we have people that will show you how to find out from whence
you came. Ask and we will help you. Going on a trip? We could show you the
shortest way. Want to buy your airplane ticket, CHEAP? How about your hotel
reservation? I could make this letter 10 pages long with all the information
that is at your fingertips. If only you would ask, "How do I do it?"
There are as many as 100 people attending these sessions. Don’t be shy. We have
all been down the Dummy Road at some time or another and if we are asked, we
will help answer your questions. What is required is patience and you will
eventually master the computer or at least have it do some of the things you
want it to do. If you work at it you might get to be as smart as your grand
kids.
Computers
are a great tool to stay in touch with your family and friends. Without it you
will be on an island. Computers are here to stay.
PEOPLE
HERE WILL HELP YOU IF YOU WILL ONLY ASK!
What
We Do At "Let’s Talk Computers"
We
demonstrate various software programs.
We
discuss the internet and show interesting web sites.
We
make recommendations for computer purchases, internet providers, etc.
We
always have questions and answers to help each other.
We
learn how others use their computers.
We
show how to do special functions in various programs.
We
provide a place to go to find the answer to your specific problem.
We
demonstrate various peripherals (scanners, cameras, CD-writers, etc.)
We
try to keep you abreast of what’s bad, what’s good and what’s new in the
computer field.
This
is a place to meet others with the same interests as yours. We are not a
structured class. We encourage questions from the group. You would be surprised
at how many people benefit from your question. There are no dumb questions
but sometimes there are funny ones. If we are not covering something that you
would like, ASK and we will try to cover that subject in the future. We like
to have people share their knowledge of a certain aspect of computing. We
encourage anyone who would like to put on a presentation for the group to do
so.