200.07 - Missing Lead Zeroes

Are you constantly frustrated with MS Excel, because it keeps removing that leading zero from your inventory number?

Yeah, me too!

The problem is Excel automatically sees the data as a number and since the leading zeros have no value in numbers, it gets rid of them.

It's convenient when you're actually dealing with numbers, but a pain when it's a part number or an ID number.

A quick and easy way to get Excel to leave your zeros alone is to change the cell format to text.

There are a few ways to make the change, so let's go over a couple of them now.

One way to handle the situation is to first highlight the cell(s) to change.

In older versions of Excel, you need to go to the Format menu, Cells choice.

In Excel 2007, click on the arrow in the bottom right hand corner of the Number section under the Home tab on the ribbon.

Under the General tab (

Now, I'd like to wrap up with one last thought. If you only have a few cells to change, you could just type an apostrophe before entering the data (for example, instead of typing 0123 in the cell, type '0123).

When you hit the Enter key, the change is made instantly for that cell only. Once again, your zero is safe and sound!

Number tab in Excel 2007), choose Text from the Categories list and then click OK.

200.07
Contributing Source
World Start
8/19/08

200.06 - Process Library Quick Link

Task Manager Processes

As many as 20 to 30 processes may be running invisibly, silently in the background on your PC. Some hog system resources, drastically slowing down your computer. Others are a threat to security and privacy. A few may be harmless.

The Windows Task Manager displays most of these processes but you have no information to learn and understand what is what.

Get the latest definitions and exhaustive advice on all the processes running on directly in the Windows Task Manager by downloading the QuickLink InfoBar from ProcessLibrary.com.

Click on a Process for immediate information. If it is a dangerous process it can be immediate removed. Unnecessary processes are running in the background and slowing your computer to a crawl without you knowing about it. This is a very effective tool and the total cost is: FREE.

200.06
Contributing Source
Process Library.com
8/19/08

200.05 - How To Clean A Keyboard

Simple Cleaning Instructions

First of all, you'll want to turn your computer off and unplug your keyboard.

1.) Turn your keyboard over and try to shake out any particles you can.

2.) It's suggested to get a can of compressed air and spray it over the keys to remove any extra debris that may be lying in between the cracks. Compressed air is available at any computer or photo store.

3.) Take a slightly damp cloth and run it over the keys to remove any fingerprints and any other dirt that might be settling in on your keys.

4.) Take your vacuum's dusting brush attachment and set it on a low mode. Just run it over the keyboard to make sure all remaining particles of dust, dirt, food, etc. are removed.

Now, if you need to do a more serious cleaning because you have sticky keys or your keyboard is just so filthy, you can't stand it, take caution and follow the rest of the steps below.

Make sure you keep track of where the keys are placed on your keyboard so that you're able to put them back on in the right order. You may want to draw yourself a picture of some sort to keep track of them.

Now, using a small screwdriver, carefully remove all of the smaller keys. You're not going to want to take off the larger keys like the space bar, Shift, Enter or Tab, because those are extremely difficult to get back on.

Go back to using your compressed air to get all of the left over dirt that may be refusing to come out. If you have any stains underneath the keys, use the damp cloth like before to get rid of those. Once you have it all clean like you want it, put the keys back in their place. Each of them should snap right back on, but be careful. Also, test each key as you go, just to make sure they're working. When you're all finished, plug your keyboard back in and try out all of the keys to make sure everything is back to normal and working properly.

200.05
Contributing Source
World Start
8/18/08

200.04 - Disable Vista Welcome Center

As you've probably figured out, the Windows Vista default setting is set to show the Welcome Center screen every time you start up your computer. While the Welcome Center is mildly interesting the first time you see it, you'll more than likely get tired of it rather quickly.

You can easily change the setting though by unchecking the Run option under the Startup button, located at the bottom of the Welcome Center screen.

1.) To do that, go to Start, Control Panel.

2.) Select Welcome Center.

Now, similarly, the Vista Sidebar is also shown by default. While some users will find the Sidebar and its widgets very useful, you may want to use that space on your desktop for something else. If that's the case, you can turn the Sidebar off. Here's how:

1.) Go to Start, Control Panel.

2.) Right click on the Windows Sidebar icon in the system tray.

3.) Choose Properties.

4.) Uncheck the "Start Sidebar When Windows Starts" checkbox.

5.) Click OK.

200.04
Contributing Source:
Microsoft
7/16/08

200.03 - Bel Arc Advisor Computer Report

The Belarc Advisor builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, CIS (Center for Internet Security) benchmarks, and displays the results in your Web browser

This is a very comprehensive report of everything on your personal computer. The report lists all information concerning your PC including Serial Numbers and all Product Key Codes for the software loaded.

The report checks the status of your virus program and all the needed windows update. The report includes all the license numbers for the software that you have installed as well as the current versions.

This is an invaluable report that you can run for FREE. The product is Secure and no information is shared anywhere else. You can then print the 5-6 page report for your records.

200.03
Contributing Source:
Belarc.com
7/16/08

200.02 - Spam Blocker For OE & Windows Mail

Free Spam Filter for Outlook Express & Windows Mail

SPAMfighter has partnered up with Microsoft to build the strongest, safest, and most effective anti spam tool on the market. If you use Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Mail and you want to get rid of spam, just install SPAMfighter. And if you use it at home, it's 100% free.

Whenever new mail arrives, it will automatically be tested by SPAMfighter, and if it's spam, it will be moved to your spam folder.

• Award winning spam blocking technology
• Protects against "phishing", identity theft, and other email fraud
• Free automatic updates
• Used by more than 5 million happy users around the World
• Protects all the email accounts on your PC
• Unique picture filter that can recognize spam which is sent as a picture
• Automatic "real mail" protection - means no lost business mails!
• Blacklist domains and emails
• Spam Abuse Reporting with one click
• Automatic Whitelist management

200.02
Contributing Source:
Spamfighter.com
7/16

200.01 - Eusing Register Cleaner

The more software and hardware you install and uninstall, the more full your Registry gets. A great deal of software doesn't clean up after itself, and leaves behind old and obsolete Registry entries, or upon install creates invalid ones. There will be pointers to missing DLLs, listings of no-longer-valid file extensions, invalid paths, invalid ActiveX Controls, and much more. The more your Registry fills with this junk, the slower your PC gets and the more often you'll have system crashes.

Eusing Free Registry Cleaner helps to fix the problem in a simple, two-step process. Tell it to scan your Registry, and it goes through and identifies common problems and junk.

Then tell it to repair the Registry, and it tidies things up. Because changing the Registry can have serious impact on your system, the program lets you first look at the problems it finds, and tell it to only fix some of them. If you get into trouble, the program also lets you revert to the previous version of the Registry.

Total Cost: FREE - Download from PC World:

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64953-order,1-page,1/description.html

200.01
Contributing Source:
Eusing Software
7/16/08