The suggestions below assume you are running Microsoft Windows XP and Internet Explorer on your computer. However, with a few "tweaks" most will work with other Microsoft operating systems.  Click on any of the paragraphs below for further information.

Security

How do I make PastFifty my Homepage?

How can I increase the size of the words on my screen?

How do I get photographs on to my computer?

What is USB ?

How do I send and receive emails ?

How do I include a photograph in an email?

How do I make a screensaver from a photograph?

What is a Browser?

What is a Search Engine ?

What is a Blog?

Security

Never automatically hit the Reply button to respond to an email from an unknown source.  You could be opening the door of your computer to an unknown and unwanted cyber (computer generated) attack! 

How do I make PastFifty my Homepage?

Whilst you are looking at this page, at the top of this Internet Explorer page you will see a heading “Tools”.  Click it and go down to “Internet Options” Click on it.  Under the “General” tab you will see “use current”.  Click on it and you will see the box fill with http://www.PastFifty.net/computer.htm#homeppage or similar.  Click your mouse at the end of this line until the cursor appears, and then press the Backspace key until you are left with just http://www.pastfifty.netAt the bottom of the page click “ok”.  From now on, whenever you start Internet Explorer it will start off with this PastFifty page.

How can I increase the size of the words on my screen?

If you want to increase the size of the words on webpages using Internet Explorer, then then point your mouse arrow along the bar at the top headed File, Edit, View etc. Click View then click Text Size, then from the list choose the text size you would like to try. You can always go back and change it if too large or too small. If the web pages are properly constructed and fairly simple, then this should work adequately, but you may find some web pages that don't respond properly.  If you have Internet Explorer ver. 6 you will find a little magnifying glass in the bottom right corner which you can click to adjust the type size.

If you want to increase font size generally: go to Start (bottom left hand corner of screen) click Control Panel; double click Display Properties to open it, then click the Appearance tab. At the bottom of that window under Font Size you will then see a drop down box: click the arow and choose either large or extra large fonts.

If that doesn't satisfy you, click the Settings tab under Display Properties, then click Advanced, then alter the DPI (dots per inch) to normal or large, or highlight and type your own size into the box.

In all these cases, reverse back out by clicking OK.

How do I get photographs on to my computer?

Firstly, see if you have a digital camera - if not, see below 

Secondly, read the appropriate section of your digital camera instruction manual. 

There are several variations and alternatives, and your digital camera will almost certainly have come with the necessary connectors, CD ROM and instructions.

In general, you can transfer pictures either direct from your camera or from your camera's memory card using a card reader.

The camera or card reader will be connected to your computer by a USB (see below) cable through which the transfer takes place. 

If you want to get a normal, printed photograph on to you computer then you need to SCAN it - or have it scanned.  You can either use a Scanner yourself or take your photo(s) into a photographic shop and have them scanned on to a CD.  This will give you a copy of the picture in digital format than can then be handled and stored on your computer.

What is USB ?

Universal Serial Bus is a type of connector and protocol for transferring data to and from digital devices. Many digital cameras and memory card readers connect to the USB port on a computer. USB data transfer is typically faster than the older method of connecting to the serial port, but slower than connecting via FireWire, although USB 2 has minimised this difference.  USB is a small flat connector that looks like this:

How do I send and receive emails ?

This depends on whether you are using web based email or a program such a Outlook Express or Outlook.

Web based email has the advantage that you can send and receive your emails from almost any internet connected computer in the world. With this type of email your emails are actually kept somewhere in the world on a remote server and not on your own computer.

Outlook is Microsoft's email program, and is included with the Microsoft Office suite. It is designed to operate as an independent personal information manager. It manages email, calendars, contacts, tasks, to-do lists, and documents or files on your computer.

Outlook Express is also a more restricted email program that comes available with Internet Explorer (browser - see below). Outlook Express is simpler to set up and use if you only need to read email.

With both Outlook programs, for home use, your emails are kept on your computer hard disk drive.

How do I include a photograph in an email?

Ensure that you know where your photographs are stored on your computer.  Assuming you are using Outlook, on the toolbar just above the "To" box you will see a small picture of a paperclip with a little downwards pointing arrow next to it.  Click the arrow, then click file, and then scroll to where you keep your photographs.  Click the one you wan to add, and it will then be added to the email you send.

How do I make a screensaver from a photograph?

Click Start; then click control Panel. You can change how control Panel looks by clicking View and selecting whichever view you find easiest to use.  Then double click Display.  Click the Screensaver tab.  Then click the arrow to the right of the screen saver box and select whichever takes your fancy. Clicking Settings gives you further options which you can play around with.  Clicking Preview will show you what it looks like when it is operational. Pressing any key or moving the mouse takes you back.  Then reverse out clicking OK.  

Similarly, you can also change your desktop by clicking the Desktop tab and making similar choices.  In this case you can also browse to a photograph or picture of your own choosing. Whilst you are in display, have a look at the other tabs, but be careful of interfering with the Settings tab settings unless you know what you are doing.

What is a Browser?

A browser is a software program that allows you to search for and view various kinds of information on the Web, such as web sites, video, audio, etc. Surfing the web (ie, moving from webpage to webpage) is made possible by Web browsers. 

Most Internet users use Microsoft's Internet Explorer because it's easy to use and comes ready installed.

However, there are others: if you want to experiment you can try Firefox - relatively new and preferred by some people; Opera - although this may have some compatability issues; Netscape - been around for years and now rather out of fashion, & Safari - specifically for Mac users.

What is a Search Engine ?

A search engine is a piece of software that enables users to search the Internet using keywords. Google is the most commonly used today, but there are others - such as Yahoo and Alta Vista and there are some for specialised searches.   There is also the search engine Colossus, containing groups of search engines. However, Google is easy, pretty clever, and should do most of what you need.

What is a Blog?

Blog is short for web log. A weblog is a journal (or newsletter) that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Blogs generally represent the personality of the author or the Web site.

The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical expertise to update and maintain the blog.