Leslie's Un-Geek Vista Newsletter

Leslie's Un-Geek Vista Newsletter Volume #6 ~ correction

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:44:00 GMT

Greetings, Dear Readers!  Wow! Guess I need a proof reader! The link to Beautypedia in the bottom section of the letter is dead. Here's a good one: <a href="http://www.beautypedia.com/" target="_blank">BEAUTYPEDIA</a> Cheers!  <hr> Well, that's about it for now. Again, please send me all your questions and I'll use them in the next issue. <a href="http://theungeek.com/sendmail_newsletter.php">CLICK HERE</a> to email me. And don't forget to visit my website here ---> <a href="http://theungeek.com" target="_blank">Computer RX of Eastern Washington</a> Happy computing! Leslie, The Un-Geek <hr> The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription: You are subscribed to the following list: Leslie's Un-Geek Vista Newsletter using the following email: example@example.com You may unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL: <a href="http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/vista/example/example.com/"> http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/vista/example/example.com/ </a> If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism. You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen <a href="http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi"> here. </a> If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at: <a href="mailto:news@theungeek.com"> news@theungeek.com </a> The following physical address is associated with this mailing list: Spokane, WA <a href="http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/what_is_dada_mail/">Mailing List Powered by Dada Mail</a>

Leslie's Un-Geek Vista Newsletter Volume #6 ~ June 16, 2010

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:30:00 GMT

Greetings, Dear Readers!  As usual, I got some really good questions from you this month. I also received a request for a gadget review. Let's dig in. <ul> <li><a href="#uninstall" title="Uninstall a program" target="_self">How do I uninstall a program?</a></li> <li><a href="#add-on" target="_self">Website not behaving?</a></li> <li><a href="#folder" target="_self">Create a folder within a folder.</a></li> <li><a href="#download" target="_self">Want to install something?</a></li> <li><a href="#off_topic" target="_self">Bonus product review</a></li> </ul> How do I uninstall a program?<a name="uninstall" id="uninstall"></a> Click on your "Start" button to open your start menu, then click on "Control Panel". <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/uninstall-1.jpg" width="521" height="429" border="1" /> Under "Programs" click on "Uninstall a program". <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/uninstall-2.jpg" width="594" height="436" border="1" /> You get a list of all your installed programs. Click once on the program you want to uninstall to highlight it. Let's click on "Comcast Access". Then click once on "uninstall" at the top of the window. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/uninstall - 3.jpg" width="591" height="436" border="1" /> You'll probably get this little box asking you to confirm you really want to uninstall the program. Nice to have a chance to back out in case you accidentally highlighted the wrong program or just realized you want to keep it and use it. Anyway, we'll click "continue" to uninstall Comcast Access. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/uninstall - 4.jpg" width="591" height="436" border="1" /> The uninstaller will go through whatever process it needs to go through, depending on what program you're uninstalling. It may ask you some more questions you'll have to answer to complete the process and some programs will give you a pop up at the end asking you to restart your computer. Do restart. And you're finished. <hr /> If this or any other instructions you receive in any of my newsletters is in any way unclear, confusing, or otherwise not consistant with your experience or needs PLEASE do let me know! <a href="http://theungeek.com/mailform.php">Click here</a> to email me.  <hr /> WEBSITE NOT BEHAVING?<a name="add-on" id="add-on"></a> Ever click a link to a website expecting something specific to happen when you get there but nothing does? Look for this little bar at the top of the page: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/addon-1.jpg" width="729" height="162" border="1" /> This is Windows protecting you from websites that might download and install software onto your computer without your permission or knowledge. If you did, however navigate to the website intentionally and for a purpose, chances are you'll need to click the bar and then click "ok" or "allow" or "install" in order to be able to accomplish what you went there to accomplish. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/addon-2.jpg" width="729" height="162" border="1" /> Once you click on this option either the website will proceed to do whatever it is you need it to do, or you will be presented with other little dialog boxes with choices for you to make in order for you to enable the website to do what you are there for. If you see a box like this on a website you are unfamiliar with or aren't sure whether or not to install, feel free to click on one of the other options to find out what is trying to install itself on your computer. Maybe you don't want it, maybe you do. <hr /> If this or any other instructions you receive in any of my newsletters is in any way unclear, confusing, or otherwise not consistant with your experience or needs PLEASE do let me know! <a href="http://theungeek.com/mailform.php">Click here</a> to email me.  <hr /> CREATE A FOLDER WITHIN A FOLDER<a name="folder" id="folder"></a> Is your "Documents" folder full of all sorts of junk you'd like to organize into specific, seperate folders? It's easy to create new folders and name them whatever you want. Open your Documents folder. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/folder-1.jpg" width="646" height="482" border="1" /> Click your RIGHT mouse button inside the white space and you'll get a little drop-down menu. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/folder-2.jpg" width="646" height="482" border="1" /> When you hover over "New" another menu opens up where you can then left click on "Folder". <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/folder-3.jpg" width="646" height="482" border="1" /> Your new folder appears with the name "New Folder", which is highlighted. Now type the name you want for the folder and your typing will replace the highlighted name, "New Folder". I'll type "Junk". <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/folder-4.jpg" width="646" height="482" border="1" /> Notice the name is inside a little box wtih the cursor still flashing at the end of it. Just hit "Enter" on your keyboard and the name is set. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/folder-5.jpg" width="646" height="482" border="1" /> Now you can open it by double clicking and put anything you want in there. <hr /> If this or any other instructions you receive in any of my newsletters is in any way unclear, confusing, or otherwise not consistant with your experience or needs PLEASE do let me know! <a href="http://theungeek.com/mailform.php">Click here</a> to email me.  <hr /> WANT TO INSTALL SOMETHING? <a name="download" id="download"></a> If you click on a link in a webpage expecting to download &/or install something specific but get a page full of ads and can't find your download, you might have another bar at the top of the page again, that you'll need to click on to activate your download. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/download-1.jpg" width="753" height="156" border="1" /> Click on the bar and you get a little drop-down menu like before. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/download-2.jpg" width="753" height="156" border="1" /> Click on "Download File..." and you should get a box asking you whether to run, save, or cancel. You decide. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/download-3.jpg" width="409" height="272" border="1" /> The simplest thing to do is to just click the "Run" button and the installation will start. You will be walked through a series of steps to complete the installation. Sometimes at the end you will be asked to restart your computer. Do. You can click "Cancel" if you change your mind and the little box will just go away and nothing else will happen. If you click on the "Save" button a navigation box will open where you can choose a folder in your computer to store the installation file. I like to choose this option most of the time so that if I ever need to reinstall the program for any reason I can just double click on the installation file where I stored it and begin the reinstall without having to go online and try to find it there again. Vista comes with a built-in "Downloads" folder. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/download-4.jpg" width="615" height="508" border="1" /> Double click on the "Downloads" folder to open it (or wherever you want to store the file) and then click "Save". <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/download-5.jpg" width="615" height="508" border="1" /> You'll see this while the file is downloading: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/download-6.jpg" width="615" height="508" border="1" /> And this when it is completed: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/download-7.jpg" width="615" height="508" border="1" /> Now you can click on the "Run" button to start the installation. If you ever do need to reinstall the program again from your stored installation file please do go to "options" or "preference" inside the program after it is installed and check for updates. Software developers are constantly improving their programs and if your installation file sat in your folder for very long, chances are now the program needs updating. <hr /> If this or any other instructions you receive in any of my newsletters is in any way unclear, confusing, or otherwise not consistant with your experience or needs PLEASE do let me know! <a href="http://theungeek.com/mailform.php">Click here</a> to email me. <hr /> OFF TOPIC - PAULA'S CHOICE<a name="off_topic" id="off_topic"></a> As with software, I would never recommend any product I do not use and love, myself. I am proud to announce that the best skin care line, ever, has accepted me as an affiliate. The product line is called <a href="http://www.paulaschoice.com/category/skin-care/?a=theungeek">Paula's Choice</a> and it is owned and run by Paula Begoun from Seattle, WA. She started out years ago as a product review writer and in the process learned so much about what makes a good product she finally decided to formulate her own. Her pet peeves are high prices and false or exaggerated claims. So it follows that her products are very affordable and what you see is what you get. She bases her formulas on hard science and publishes a great product review newsletter called Beautypedia, which can be found here. What's more, she actually recommends other companies' products if they are good, too. What does it mean that I am an affiliate? It means that if you click on a link to her <a href="http://www.paulaschoice.com/category/skin-care/?a=theungeek">website</a> from this newsletter or my website,<a href="http://theungeek.com"> Computer RX of Eastern Washington,</a> and buy anything, I will receive a 15% commission, which is very cool, but honestly, even after spending way too much on really upscale products, I've ended up using Paula's Choice exclusively because it it truly the best I've ever tried. So check out her newsletter and <a href="http://www.paulaschoice.com/category/skin-care/?a=theungeek">website</a> if you're interested (She has mens' products, too!) and get some samples to try before investing in full-sized products if you like. And don't forget to use the <a href="http://www.paulaschoice.com/category/skin-care/?a=theungeek">link</a> from my newsletter (below or in the right sidebar) or <a href="http://theungeek.com"> website,</a> please. ENJOY! <hr /> <a href="http://www.paulaschoice.com/category/skin-care/?a=theungeek"><img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_6/vista/Paula-banner.jpg" width="634" height="103" border="0" /></a>  <hr> Well, that's about it for now. Again, please send me all your questions and I'll use them in the next issue. <a href="http://theungeek.com/sendmail_newsletter.php">CLICK HERE</a> to email me. And don't forget to visit my website here ---> <a href="http://theungeek.com" target="_blank">Computer RX of Eastern Washington</a> Happy computing! Leslie, The Un-Geek <hr> The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription: You are subscribed to the following list: Leslie's Un-Geek Vista Newsletter using the following email: example@example.com You may unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL: <a href="http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/vista/example/example.com/"> http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/vista/example/example.com/ </a> If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism. You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen <a href="http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi"> here. </a> If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at: <a href="mailto:news@theungeek.com"> news@theungeek.com </a> The following physical address is associated with this mailing list: Spokane, WA <a href="http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/what_is_dada_mail/">Mailing List Powered by Dada Mail</a>

Leslie's Un-Geek Vista Newsletter Volume #5 ~ April 8, 2010

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:54:00 GMT

Greetings, Dear Readers!  I got some great questons from you this month. Here are a few. <ul> <li><a href="#favorite" target="_self">Save a page in "favorites" so you can access it quickly next time</a></li> <li><a href="#emails" target="_self">Save pictures you receive in an email</a></li> <li><a href="#chkdsk" target="_self">Run chkdsk utility because you receive a corrupt file notification</a></li> </ul> SAVE A FAVORITE PAGE<a name="favorite" id="favorite"></a> We all have certain web pages we visit frequently. Internet Explorer provides a way to save links to these pages so they are easy to access without having to search for them every time. Once you have the page open that you want to save click on the "favorites" button on the top of your browser: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/favorites-1.jpg" width="600" height="400" border="1" /> Your "favorites" sidebar opens.Â Click on "add to favorites". <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/favorites-2.jpg" width="600" height="400" border="1" /> You get a little box with the name of the page filled in. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/favorites-3.jpg" width="600" height="400" border="1" /> Just click the "Add" button and then next time you click on "favorites" it will be in there. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/favorites-4.jpg" width="600" height="400" border="1" /> <hr /> HOW DO I SAVE PICTURES I RECEIVE IN EMAILS?<a name="emails" id="emails"></a> I did a brief tutorial describing the "drag and drop" method in my first newsletter, but a lot of you probably didn't get that issue and the question has come up again so I'll do a more complete tutorial here. Drag and drop is the easiest way, but doesn't always work. There are a lot of factors involved, many of which you have no control over, like how the pictures were attached or inserted into the email, what email program sent them, etc. So there are a few ways to try. Also, many people do not know how to resize photos before sending, like we did in the last issue, so the pictures they send you are HUGE! So you may have to resize them after you have saved them so that they are easier to see. First let's review the old drag and drop: This will probably work if the pictures you want to save were attached, not inserted. You'll see the difference as we go. Open the folder you want to put the pictures in. With the email containing the pictures open, click your left mouse button and HOLD IT DOWN. While holding it down drag it across into the white space inside the open folder. Release the mouse button. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/saveEmail_1.jpg" width="600" height="400" border="1" /> This will "drop" the picture into the folder. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/saveEmail_2.jpg" width="600" height="400" border="1" /> Easy-peasy! Unfortunately it doesn't always work that way. If the sender "inserted" the picture instead of "attaching" it, it won't appear in the attachments line below the subject line. It will just be showing in the body of the email. Sometimes you can drag and drop these but chances are it won't work. If it doesn't you can "save as". Here's how. Right click on the picture inside the email and you'll get a little menu. Click on "Save Picture As". <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/saveEmail_3.jpg" width="600" height="400" border="1" /> and you get a navigation box. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/saveEmail_4.jpg" width="600" height="481" border="1" /> If the navigation box doesn't open to the folder you want to save the picture in you'll have to navigate to the correct folder. Notice the File name is weird. You might want to change it to a name you like better. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/saveEmail_5.jpg" width="600" height="479" border="1" /> Then click the "Save" button and the picture will be saved in the designated folder. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/saveEmail_6.jpg" width="429" height="347" border="1" /> <hr /> THIS KEEPS POPPING UP ON MY COMPUTER: "THIS FILE OR DIRECTORY (NAME OF FILE FOLLOWS) IS CORRUPT AND UNREADABLE. PLEASE RUN CHKDSK UTILITY." WHERE DO I FIND THE CHKDSK UTILITY AND HOW DO I RUN IT?<a name="chkdsk" id="chkdsk"></a> Click your "START" button and then click on "My Computer" <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/chkdsk-1.jpg" width="400" height="542" border="1" /> Right click on C: (Local disk) to get the drop down menu, then click on "Properties" <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/chkdsk-2.jpg" width="600" height="400" border="1" /> You get a window with a whole bunch of choices in it.Â Click the "Tools" tab at the top. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/chkdsk-3.jpg" width="600" height="500" border="1" /> This window open: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/chkdsk-4.jpg" width="600" height="500" border="1" /> Click on "Check Now".Â You get this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/chkdsk-5.jpg" width="600" height="500" border="1" /> Click "Continue" and you get this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/chkdsk-6.jpg" width="600" height="456" border="1" /> Make sure both little boxes are checked. Click them to check them if they are not. Then click "Start". You get this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/chkdsk-7.jpg" width="600" height="456" border="1" /> Click on "Schedule disk check" and then click "Ok" as many times as you have to to close all the boxes. Now restart your computer. When it starts back up you'll have a strange black screen. Don't freak out. This is how it's supposed to look. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_5/vista/chkdsk-8.jpg" width="600" height="400" /> The white text will grow and change, working its way through all 5 stages. It takes a while and gets really boring. This is a good time to walk away and do something else. Get a cup of coffee, do the dishes, feed the dog, whatever you like. Or if you prefer to sit and watch the screen you may end up having a nap you didn't count on. When it's all finished it will start up like normal and if there were any errors or corrupted files they should be fixed. If this doesn't solve your issue, then further troubleshooting is needed.  <hr> Well, that's about it for now. Again, please send me all your questions and I'll use them in the next issue. <a href="http://theungeek.com/sendmail_newsletter.php">CLICK HERE</a> to email me. And don't forget to visit my website here ---> <a href="http://theungeek.com" target="_blank">Computer RX of Eastern Washington</a> Happy computing! Leslie, The Un-Geek <hr> The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription: You are subscribed to the following list: Leslie's Un-Geek Vista Newsletter using the following email: example@example.com You may unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL: <a href="http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/vista/"> http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/vista/ </a> If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism. You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen <a href="http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi"> here. </a> If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at: <a href="mailto:news@theungeek.com"> news@theungeek.com </a> The following physical address is associated with this mailing list: Spokane, WA

Leslie's Un-Geek Vista Newsletter Volume #4 ~ March 13, 2010

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:04:00 GMT

Greetings, Dear Readers!  This issue has been illustrated specifically for Vista users. There is a Windows XP version as well. If you would like to switch, or receive both, let me know and I'll make it happen. In this issue we will deal with questions from you: <ol> <li><a href="#email" title="resize in email" target="_self">How do I resize photos for email?</a></li> <li><a href="#paint" title="image editor" target="_self">How do I resize photos in the built-in Windows image editor?</a></li> <li><a href="#insert" title="insert in email" target="_self">How do I insert an image in an email so it opens inside the message?</a></li> <li><a href="#fax" title="free fax" target="_self">How can I send a fax without having to buy a fax machine?</a></li> </ol> LET'S RESIZE IMAGES! When you import photos from your camera into your computer they are HUGE! What this means is that if you send them to your friends in an email or try to upload them to a website for sharing it will take way too long to make the trip from your computer across the internet to wherever they are bound, and your email program may even refuse to send anything so large. If you were to print the photo in its native size it would probably be bigger than a piece of notebook paper! So you will want to make them smaller for sharing. I'm not going to have you change the actual photo to a smaller size, but rather save a copy that will be smaller so that you can still preserve the original large photo as well. This is a good idea because any time you resize a photo your smaller version will lose a little quality. Not enough to see with the naked eye, but enough to see if you were to, for instance, blow it back up to a bigger size again. You never know. You just might want to make a poste r of it some day! So let's save the big original AND a little copy for sharing. <a name="email" id="email"></a>If you just want to email your photos your email program can actually resize them for you. There are two ways to do this. First you can navigate to the picture(s) you want to send and right click on the photo, and you will see a menu like this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/email_1.jpg" width="382" height="560" border="1" /> Hover your cursor over "Send To" and another little menu will appear like this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/email_2.jpg" width="495" height="450" border="1" /> Click on "Mail Recipient" and you'll get a little box that looks like this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/email_3.jpg" width="499" height="303" border="1" /> Click on the little arrow thingie to the right of "Medium: 1024 x 768" and you'll get a bunch of size options to choose from like this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/email_4.jpg" width="499" height="303" border="1" /> Make your choice simply by clicking on which size you want. I would prefer "Smaller: 640 x 480" for emails. This will still look pretty big on the screen. You'll notice that after you click on your choice the choices disappear and it tells you how many killobytes your photo will be. The smaller (fewer killobytes) the faster it will load on your friend's machine when they receive it. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/email_5.jpg" width="499" height="303" border="1" /> Now click on the "Attach" button and voila! Up pops a brand new email message with your resized photo already attached and ready to send. Pretty Cool! <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/email_6.jpg" width="463" height="327" border="1" /> That text is put in the message automatically and you are free to erase it and write whatever you want. <hr /> But what if you want to INSERT the photo instead of ATTACHING it, so that it shows up right in the email? This is where the other way of resizing photos comes in handy. Windows gives us a dandy little program called "Paint". It is an image editing program that doesn't do very much, frankly, but it does resize images. If someone tells you to spend $400 on Photoshop tell them to go jump in the lake! <a name="copy" id="copy"></a>Let's start by making a copy to work with so that if we screw it up the original will remain intact and pristine. You can actually use this method to copy just about any file of any type, not just images. Navigate to the folder containing the image and right click it once to see the menu again like you did before. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/copy_1.jpg" width="392" height="591" border="1" /> Click on "Copy". The little menu disappears! Never fear, you didn't do anything wrong. Now right click on the blank space inside the folder and another little menu appears. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/copy_2.jpg" width="445" height="487" border="1" /> Click on "Paste" and your copy appears right there in the same folder with a new name: Copy of challenger. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/copy_3.jpg" width="327" height="156" border="1" /> Now you can double click on "Copy of challenger" to open it for editing and the original "challenger" photo won't be touched. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_1.jpg" width="627" height="338" border="1" /> <a name="paint" id="paint"></a>Your new image, Copy of challenger, has open in Windows Photo Gallery. Across the top you will see a menu bar. Click on "Open" and then on "Paint". <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_2.jpg" width="577" height="308" border="1" /> And the "Paint" program opens up with your image already loaded. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_3.jpg" width="536" height="338" border="1" /> As you can see, your image is so big, only a small corner shows up in the window. You can see the whole image by scrolling up and down, left and right just like you would in a browser window. Next you want to click on "Image" on the top menu bar, which opens a little menu like this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_4.jpg" width="575" height="384" border="1" /> Click on "Resize/Skew..." and another little window with some choices will open up like this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_5.jpg" width="583" height="417" border="1" /> Now the fun starts. The little numbers in the little boxes are there for you to change to whatever you like. The top "Stretch" section is what we want to change. It is important to keep the two numbers the same so that you won't end up with a misshapen image. I suggest starting with 50% to see how it will look. Just change the two little "100% to 50% and then click "OK". <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_6.jpg" width="574" height="410" border="1" /> Now you're beginning to see the image. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_7.jpg" width="585" height="418" border="1" /> Now there are lots of things you can do. You can make the "Paint" window bigger by dragging the bottom right corner or by clicking on the square in the top right corner to see the whole image. You can click on "Image" on the top menu bar again, then click on "Attributes" to see the new dimensions of your image. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_8.jpg" width="582" height="416" border="1" /> This little box gives you all kinds of info. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_9.jpg" width="599" height="428" border="1" /> Now you can just click "OK" or "Cancel" to make the little box go away, or "Default" to put the image back to its original size. You can change the numbers here, too, and click "ok" to save the change, but I wouldn't. Since the numbers aren't in percent, you may distort your picture. Let's just click "ok" to keep the new dimensions and make the little box go away. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_7.jpg" width="569" height="406" border="1" /> Here's something really cool: You can click "Edit" on the top menu bar and then "Undo" at any time if you want to undo the last action you performed. You can "Undo" as many times as you want. Also, if you accidentally close the "Paint" window before you're ready to save your changes you'll get a little box asking you if you want to save the changes and if you click "No" the image will go back to it's original state. So don't worry about wrecking your image. Besides, this is just a copy of the original, anyway, remember? Nothing you do to this will affect your original image. So if you're happy with the new dimensions you can save your new image and I'll show you how to do that in a minute. First let's make it even smaller. You will click on "Image" and then "Resize/Scew..." again and the little box will open up again. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_5.jpg" width="569" height="406" border="1" /> Notice that the values in the little boxes are 100% again! But you already reduced the size by 50%, right? So now you're reducing the reduced version, so if you type in 50% again you'll end up with an image that is actually 25% of the original size. Let's do that. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_10.jpg" width="570" height="405" border="1" /> Now that's a nice size! Let's save it. Click on "File" on the top menu bar to see a menu like this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/paint_11.jpg" width="577" height="410" border="1" /> Now just click on "Save" and voila! Your "challenger" photo remains unchanged and your "Copy of challenger" is 25% smaller and will fit into an email nicely or upload to the web quickly. You'll need to click the red "X" in the right hand top corner to close the "Paint" program. <hr /> HOW DO I INSERT A PHOTO INTO AN EMAIL INSTEAD OF ATTACHING IT?<a name="insert" id="insert"></a> If you attach any kind of file to an email, whether it be a photo, text document, or whatever, it will just show up right under SUBJECT as an attachment that needs to be opened to be viewed, like the photo we attached to the email at the beginning of this newsletter. If you insert a photo, it shows up when you open the email. Here's how: Open a new mail message. It's very important that you first click your cursor inside the body of the email as if you were about to start writing. Then click on "Insert" on the top menu bar, and click on "Picture" like this: <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/insert_1.jpg" width="546" height="551" border="1" /> A navigation box will open up like this. Mine automatically opens up to my Pictures folder. If yours doesn't you'll have to navigate to wherever your photo is that you want to insert. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/insert_2.jpg" width="548" height="437" border="1" /> Now click on the picture you want to insert to select it and you'll notice that the name of the photo appears in the "file name" box on the bottom. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/insert_3.jpg" width="547" height="440" border="1" /> Now just click on the "Open" button on the bottom right and your photo is inserted into your email message. <img src="http://theungeek.com/NewsletterContent/Vol_4/Vista/insert_4.jpg" width="526" height="500" border="1" /> Before you start to write a message you need to click your cursor in the body of the email OUTSIDE the photo. This is because when it's inserted it remains selected and you must click outside of it to deselect it. You can hit the "Enter" key on your keyboard to proceed down the page and add text &/or repeat the process, adding more photos if you like. Of course you'll address your message as usual and then click "Send". <hr /> NEED TO SEND A FAX FROM HOME?<a name="fax" id="fax"></a> I don't know about you, but I'm not about to invest in a fax machine for my home. But I recently had to send a fax, so rather than drive down to KINKO or wait to use the fax machine at work I let my fingers do the walking and went on a search for a cheap online fax service. I found several, but only one that was truly FREE! <a href="http://gotfreefax.com" target="_blank">Here's the link: </a>  <hr> Well, that's about it for now. Again, please send me all your questions and I'll use them in the next issue. <a href="mailto:newsletter_suggestions@theungeek.com">CLICK HERE</a> to email me. And don't forget to visit my website here ---> <a href="http://theungeek.com" target="_blank">Computer RX of Eastern Washington</a> Happy computing! Leslie, The Un-Geek <hr> The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription: You are subscribed to the following list: Leslie's Un-Geek Vista Newsletter using the following email: example@example.com You may unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL: <a href="http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/vista/"> http://theungeek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/vista/ </a> If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism. 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