Tech Help Videos

I have created a new toolbar for Tech Help Videos. The toolbar works for both Firefox and Internet Explorer Version 5+. You will be required to have Windows 2000 or XP or Vista.

The toolbar features:

• Search function powered by Google
• RSS Feed Updates
• Email Notifier
• Weather Updates
• Links to ‘Tech Help Videos’ and ‘Tech Centre’
• Messaging feature
• Customizable Widgets

Download the toolbar here!!

This toolbar will allow you to get the latest tips and tricks from Tech Help Videos, received secret messages and tips, received email notifications, weather reports and forecast, quick access your favourite technology help website - Tech Help Videos! and customize your toolbar with widgets of your choice.

I would appreciate some feedback on this toolbar for version 1.1.

Download the toolbar here!!

Question: How do I mark a read email unread in Gmail or Hotmail?

Answer: You can mark a read email message unread by doing the following:

For Gmail — 1) Log into Gmail account and select or tick the messages that you want to be marked as read or unread.
2) Click ‘More Actions‘. In the drop down menu, click ‘mark as read‘ to make the select item/s as read mails or click ‘mark as unread‘ to make the selected item/s as unread mail.

For Hotmail — 1) Log into Hotmail account and tick the messages that you want to be marked as unread.
2) Then click the ‘Mark as unread‘ button located in the actions/menu bar.

(I am not sure if Hotmail allows you to mark a message read, when I find out I will update this post)

Apart from the usual security suite that you install on your PC to prevent viruses and spys, there are also many other protections in which you can take. In fact, there is nearly infinite number of small little freebies and programs that will enhance your safety. If there are ‘infinite’ of those freebies and security enhancements, then choosing the right ones can be quite a confusing chore to do. Also, you need to consider if the program is worth installing. If it doesn’t do much, then do no install it because you should try and keep your PC as clean as possible.

Supervision and control - To be able to supervise and have control is very important. This is critical if your children own a computer or regularly surfs the web. For these kinds of purposes, I recommend Windows Live Family Safety. Here is what this service will do:
- Ban certain websites and filter what they view.
- Know who your child has been emailing to, IM and blogging.
- Filter out their search results
- Track their usage data plus more
- Note: You and your children will need a Windows Live ID each. To sign up please click HERE.

Pop-up blocker and phishing filter - Both of these should come standard with your web browser. To be sure, you should use the latest version of any web browser. I recommend using Firefox or Internet Explorer. Both of these have a pop-up blocker and a phishing filter. In addition, some free toolbars offer a phishing filter.

Firewall - Having a strong firewall is essential. This will block unwanted installation of programs that might harm your computer. Basically, it will shield you against weird stuff and the world wide network.

Email Attachments and fake emails - Be careful when opening an email attachment from someone you do not know. You never know, one click on the attachment or link could lead you to serious trouble. In addition, learn to depict fake emails. If you are a little suspicious of an email, do not open it. For example, I recently received a fake PayPal email saying that I had to respond to them in 24 hours or my account would be canceled. Take a look at the email below:

Dear Member,
Your PayPal Account Information Have Problems.
If your problems could not be resolved your account will be closed for a period of 24 hours, after this period your account will be closed. Click on the link below. If nothing happens when you click on the link (or if you use AOL), copy and paste the link into the address bar of your web browser. https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/=login-run=P1-789-019-853

Problem ID Number: PP-34-103-876

How I knew that it was fake? 1) PayPal would never email me address me as ‘Member’, they would use my name. 2)It is totally absurd that in 24 hours my account will be closed. 3)I have done nothing that will cause this problem. 4)The email was caught in the Spam folder. — And to the person who sent this fake email to me, I would like to say ‘good try but you were not good enough, think I am dumb enough to be tricked by your little tricks? Think again, we are not as dumb as you!’

Don’t go to bad sites - This is one of the most important rule. Just don’t visit a bad site!! Do you understand?

Backups - Having copies and backups of your data will prevent you from loosing your work and data. You can either do backups with a portable hard drive or use an online backup service. But remember, if you do not have a fast internet connection, then do not use online backups. However, if you plan to use a online backup service, try out Mozy, Carbonite or Box.net.

Updates - Remember to update your computer’s software also its operating system (Windows Update). Please note that updates are there for a reason, not just to eat up your internet usage data! To prevent forgetting to do Windows Updates, set it to auto mode. For other software that you have, the update option is usually in the ‘Help’ button in the main menu.

Personal note: I use and recommend Windows Vista. It by far the best Windows Operating system and safer. For a great Vista Security guide please click HERE

For a useful list of 100 network security tools click HERE

And this concludes the Security Guide series. I hope you learnt something from the guide. The next series will be about Using online services such as Backups, file storage and sharing. So stay tuned!

If there is anything that you think is worth mentioning or I have left out, please leave a comment or send me an email. I would really appreciate it.   

Question: How do I change my full version of Windows Live Hotmail to the classic version? Note: classic version is not the old MSN Hotmail. The interface will change a bit from the full version and it is better for slow connections.

Answer: You can change the full version of Windows Live Hotmail to the classic version by logging-in first and then on then click on the link ‘ You’re using the full version of Windows Live Hotmail. Not fast enough? Try the classic version’.

Follow the steps and you will be converted to the classic version.

Question: How do I setup a Gmail notification that will automatically notify me when I receive a new email in my Gmail account?

Solution: You can easily setup a Gmail notification feature by doing the following (There are two easy methods):

Method 1 - Download the Google Toolbar for your web browser. This will notify you when you have a new Gmail. To download Google Toolbar, please click HERE

Method 2 - If you are using Firefox, you can install the add-on called ‘Gmail Manager’. There will be a little Gmail status bar at the bottom of your web browser indicating if you have a new Gmail. In addition, there are a couple of other features that ‘Gmail Manager’ does which are quite useful too.  To download this add-on please click HERE

For Internet Explorer users, you can install an add-on called ‘Graace Toolbar’. This will notify you when you have a new email message from your Gmail, Yahoo Mail or Hotmail. In addition, there is a list of other great features including a pop-up blocker, instant access to useful links, get various news headlines automatically, and listen to online radio from the toolbar. To download ‘Graace Toolbar, please click HERE.

Question: How do I change my Hotmail Alternate E-mail Address?

Solution: You change your Hotmail Alternate email address by doing the following:
1) Log into your Hotmail account.
2) Click ‘Options‘ which is located at the top right hand corner under the main Windows Live Menu bar. In the drop down menu, click on ‘More Options‘.
3) Under Manage your account, click on ‘View and Edit your personal information‘. (You can be prompted to re-enter your password)
4) In the box that has all your information listed, you should see the words, ‘Alternate Email address‘. Click on ‘Change‘
5) Enter the necessary information and details such as your password and your new alternate email address. Then, click ‘OK‘.

Question: How do I create a signature in Gmail?

Answer: You can create yourself a signature in Gmail by doing the following:
1) Log into your Gmail account.
2) Click on ‘Settings’ which is located at the top right hand corner.
3) In the “Generals’ tab, under the Signature heading, untick ‘No Signature’ and tick the option below it. Then type your signature in the box provided below.
4) Scroll down the page and click ‘Save Changes’

Question: How can I open a email message in Gmail in a new window?

Answer: You can open a new message in Gmail in a new window by pressing the ‘SHIFT‘ key on your keyboard and click on the email that you want to open.
Note: If your have set your web browser to block pop-ups, please unblock Gmail in order for the pop-ups to appear.

Question: How can I forward my email from one Windows Live Hotmail to another Hotmail account?

NOTE: Free Hotmail accounts can only forward their email to another Hotmail account. Whereas paid Hotmail accounts can forward their email to many other services like Gmail and Yahoo web Mail.

Solution: To forward your email in Hotmail to another Hotmail account, do the following:

1) Sign into your Hotmail account and make sure that you are using Windows Live Hotmail (not MSN Hotmail).
2)Click on the ‘Options‘ button located on the right side just under the main menu bar. In the drop-down menu, click on ‘More Options‘.
3) Under the ‘Manage your Account‘ heading, click on the ‘Forward mail to another e-mail account‘ link. Tick the option that says ‘Forward your mail to the following e-mail addresses‘. Insert the email address that you want to forward your mail to and click ‘OK‘.
4) Verify that you want to forward your mail to another account by signing into the account that you want your mail to be forwarded to and you will see an email that that wants you verify the operation. Open that email and click on the link in the email and then sign into your account and your email will automatically be forward to your new account. (The process of forwarding email may take awhile)

Video demo of ‘How to forward email to another account (Hotmail) will be published in 3 hours after this post.  

Question: How do I delete my paid version of Windows Live Hotmail?

Solution: To delete your paid version of Windows Live Hotmail, you have to end your subscription before closing your account. To end your subscription:

1. Visit the Microsoft Billing and Account Management website, and then sign in with the e-mail address that you want to cancel.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to close your Windows Live Hotmail account.

Notes

• If your subscription expires or if you cancel your paid service, your Windows Live Hotmail account reverts to a free account. You can still use this free Windows Live Hotmail account, but your account will be reduced to 5 gigabytes (GB).
• If you want to cancel your free account after you’ve canceled your paid subscription, follow the steps to close a free Windows Live Hotmail account.