Get personal! Tips for customizing your PC

25 tips on how to customize Windows XP.
 

Click here to learn how to send and receive AOL mail in Outlook Express

Click here to learn how to Add/Remove hidden programs in Windows XP and 2000.

Click here to learn how to Delete Cookies

Cleaning up

One of Windows 98's, Me's and XP's handiest utilities is the Disk Cleanup tool, which is designed to help you free up hard disk space. While Disk Cleanup automatically starts when the available free space falls below a 3% threshold, you can run it at any time. To do so click Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Cleanup. When Disk Cleanup launches you'll see a Files To Remove list box that contains four check-boxes: Temporary Internet Files, Downloaded Program Files, Recycle Bin, and Temporary files. (You may find other check boxes on your particular system.) Simply select the check boxes you want and click OK.

If you click the More Options tab, you'll see two more choices-- Windows setup and Installed program --that allow you to easily remove unneeded Windows components or application programs.

Say 'No to All' in Windows XP

Save time and clicks by telling your computer 'No to All' when copying duplicate files.

Here's the situation: You want to add a group of pictures you've been working on to your My Pictures folder, but your My Pictures folder already contains some, but not all, of those pictures. Instead of sorting out which are already in the folder and only moving the new ones, you can save time by just moving the whole lot of them and letting Windows XP figure out what is already there and what needs to be added.
Where's 'No to All?'
When you do this, XP will dutifully ask whether you want to replace or not replace any duplicate files. It'll give you these choices for the duplicates:
· "Yes to All" (replace them all)
· "Yes" (replace this particular one)
· "No" (do not replace this particular one)
Where's the "No to All" option? It'd be great to have if you wanted to save time, or if you wanted to keep original versions of the files. In Windows XP, you don't have to click "No" for each duplicate file. Hold down Shift while you click "No," and that will act as if you had clicked a "No to All" option. It's a simple but cool little Windows XP secret.
 

Excel spreadsheet:

You spend hours working on your Excel spreadsheet. The rows and columns add clarity to your work. But you print the spreadsheet and suddenly your gridlines disappear, leaving your organizational work of art a jumbled mess. When you're ready to print, choose Print Preview from the File menu.

1. Click the Setup button and go to the Sheet tab.
2. Under Print, put a check next to Gridlines and press Okay.

The gridlines will show up on your preview and when you print.

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USING YOUR E-mail

When you installed MSN Explorer, your account was moved from a POP3 server to Web-based Hotmail.  If you plan to continue to use MSN Explorer or www.hotmail.com to read your e-mail, you don't need to make any additional changes.  If you would like to continue using Outlook Express to access your MSN Internet Access e-mail account, visit http://go.msn.com/svcs/2/31.asp.

To set up MSN Hotmail with Outlook 2002 (and or) Outlook Express.

 Before you read the tips on Outlook Express below, did you know that MSN Hotmail now works great with Outlook 2002?

 If after following the directions your problem is still unresolved, please click the link to the Hotmail Customer Support form at the end of this message to submit your issue and a Customer Support Representative will help you.

 Please note that you can only use Microsoft Outlook Express to view your Hotmail messages if you have a Premium Pay service account, such as MSN Extra Storage.

 Outlook 2002 in Microsoft Office XP

  To set up MSN Hotmail with Outlook 2002

 1.  On the "Tools" menu, click "E-Mail Accounts".

2.  Under "E-mail", click "Add a new e-mail account", and then click "Next".

3.  Follow the instructions and be sure to select "HTTP" under "Server Type".

 For more information about the great features of Microsoft Outlook 2002 including how to get additional support for Outlook, go to:

    http://www.microsoft.com/office/worldwide.htm

  Outlook Express

We realize that this e-mail message is lengthy, but please read the entire message below because the answer to your question may be included.

 Within this message is information on:

   I. How to Get Started with Hotmail Offline

 II. How to Synchronize your Hotmail Account with Outlook Express

III. How to Send a Message in Outlook Express

IV. How to Use Outlook Express to Save Messages on your Computer's Hard Disk Drive

 V. How to Remove your Hotmail Account from Outlook Expres.

VI. Still Didn't Solve Your Problem?

 *************************

I. How to Get Started with Hotmail Offline

  To get started with Hotmail Offline

 1.  In Outlook Express, on the "Tools" menu, click "Accounts".

2.  In the "Internet Accounts" dialog box, click the "Add" button.

3.  Click "Mail" to open the Internet Connection Wizard, and then follow the instructions to configure your existing Hotmail account. You need only your Hotmail sign-in name and password.

  *************************

III. How to Send a Message in Outlook Express

  To send a message in Outlook Express

 1.  In the Outlook Express folders list, click your Hotmail Inbox.

2.  On the toolbar, click the "New Mail" button.

3.  In the "To" or "Cc" boxes, type the e-mail name of each recipient, separating names with a comma or semicolon.

4.  In the "Subject" box, type a message title.

5.  Compose your message in the text box, and then click the "Send" button.

Note: The message is not sent until you synchronize.

  *************************

IV. How to use Outlook Express to Save Messages on Your Computer's Hard Disk Drive

You can use Outlook Express to store Hotmail messages on your computer and never worry about exceeding the Hotmail size limit.

  To archive messages from your Hotmail account to your hard disk drive

 1.  In Outlook Express, under the "Local Folders" list, click "Local Folders".

2.  Click "File", point to "New", and then click "Folder".

3.  In the text box under "Folder", type a name for the new folder. Your new folder appears in the list under "Local Folders".

4.  Drag messages from your Hotmail Inbox in Outlook Express to the new folder.

When you follow this procedure, you are removing e-mail messages from your Hotmail server and moving the messages to your hard disk drive, reducing the size of your Hotmail account. You can now view the messages in the new Outlook Express folder any time you launch Outlook Express--you need not be signed in to Hotmail to see the messages.

 *************************

V.  How to Remove your Hotmail Account from Outlook Express

 You can remove your Hotmail account from Outlook Express in two ways:

  - Right-click the account and click "Remove Account".

    -or-

  - On the "Tools" menu, click "Accounts", select the Hotmail account, and click the "Remove" button.

 Your Hotmail account is not deleted permanently. You have only removed the ability to read Hotmail messages offline from Outlook Express. To reconfigure Outlook Express to read your Hotmail messages, on the "Tools" menu, click "Account" and then click "Add Mail".

 *************************

VI. Still Didn't Solve Your Problem?

 Complete the Hotmail Customer Support request form at:

    http://www.hotmail.com/cgi-bin/support

 NOTE:  Support for Outlook Express use of Hotmail is limited.

 Remember that MSN Hotmail also has comprehensive online help available--just click "Help" in the upper right corner.