Download ‘Tech Help Videos’ free toolbar

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!!

Open a Website Without Typing www and .Com

Question: How do I open a website without typing the www. and .com

Solution: You can avoid typing ‘www’ and ‘com’ by doing the following:

Type the URL of the website with out www. and .com in the address bar. Then press ‘Ctrl+Enter‘. You web browser will automatically add www. and .com for you!
NOTE: But remember, you have to use either Internet Explorer 7 or Mozilla Firefox 2.0 +

Can I download more than one file at a time?

Question: Can I download more than one file/multiple files at a time?

Answer: Yes, you can download more than one file at a time. What you will have is two pop-up download status windows at once. But please remember that if you have a slow internet connection, the connection speed will be reduced. You can download multiple files at a time in both Firefox and Internet Explorer. I am positive that you can also do this in Opera and Safari 3.

Make Folders in your Links toolbar

Creating folders to categorize your quick links can be very helpful. In a previous article, I mentioned how helpful quick links and how you can create them. (Read this article) But if you have a lot of links, then you you will have a hard time finding them. Therefore, it would be a good idea to categorize those links into folders.

To make folders in the Links Toolbar, please do the following:

Firefox - Right-click on the Links Toolbar and click on ‘New Folder’. Then, type in the folder’s name int he little pop-up window. Now you can drag and drop the links you want in each folder.

Internet Explorer 7 – Click on the Add Favourites star   In the drop-down menu, click on ‘Organize Favourites’. In the small pop-up window, right-click on the ‘Links’ folder and click on ‘Create New Folder’, then name the folder and drag links and add favourites to the folder.

How to Uninstall an addon in Firefox

Question: How do I uninstall an add-on in Firefox?

Answer: You can uninstall an add-on in Firefox by doing the following:

1) Click on ‘Tools‘ located in the top menu bar of Firefox.
2) In the drop-down menu, click ‘Add-on‘.
3) In the small pop-up window, click on the add-on on you want to uninstall and then click on the ‘Uninstall‘ button.

Note: You will need to restart Firefox to complete the process. (if you just want to pause/stop the add-on for a while, please click on ‘Disable‘ rather than ‘Uninstall’.

Automatic Gmail notifications

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.

Clear private data in Firefox

Question: How do I clear my browsing history, download history, cache cookies, saved passwords and authenticated sites in Firefox?

Solution: You can clear all those data by doing the following:
1) Click on ‘Tools’ located at the top menu bar in Firefox.
2) Click on ‘Clear Private Data’ in the drop-down menu.
3) in the small pop-up window, select your options/tick the ones you want to delete and then click on the ‘Clear Private Data Now’ button.

Clear the download list in Firefox

Question: How do I clear the download history list in Firefox?

Solution: You can clear the download history list in Firefox by clicking doing the following:
1) Click on ‘Tool’ located at the top menu bar in Firefox.
2) Click on ‘Downloads’ in the drop-down menu.
3) Click on the big ‘Clean up’ button at the bottom of the pop-up window.

Now you have successfully deleted all of your download history.

Security Guide Series: How to protect your PC

Protecting your PC is very important especially in the modern days. Now, if you are a Mac user, you might laugh at Windows users about them having to worry about viruses and spys. But the truth is that you do not have to do a lot to secure your PC. Of course if you want extra protection or if you own a large business, you might want to look further.

So lets start with the basics. The operating system you are using may largely affect the security of your computer and also what steps you have to take. For example, if you compare Windows Vista with Windows 2000, the difference is huge. For users of Windows ME and 98, I really recommend you to upgrade. You do not have to have Vista but something like XP would be fine. Or even better, why not reward yourself with a new PC. You can get quite a good PC at a very cheap price these days. So as I said before, the operating system you are using greatly affects what you have to do to secure your PC.

The next thing you should care about if what Security Suite you are going to use. For XP, 2000 and 98 users, I recommend getting the top performance security suites. I recommend NOD32 and also Kaspersky. For a detailed security suite comparison, click visit Tech Centre or Top10 Reviews. They both do a great job and unlike Norton, they do not slow down your PC very much. If you are using Windows Vista, then you are rewarded for getting the newest and safest operating system. All you actually need for Vista a very light weight and average security suite. I currently use Windows Live One Care which is not highly rated but I find it just fine. Paul Thurrott who is a Windows expert uses the free edition of AVG anti virus combined with Windows Defender that comes standard on Vista. (You can also download Windows Defender for XP) In addition, AVG also have their own anti-spyware program which is free. In addition, PC Tools has got a great free Anti-Spyware Program that comes with Google Pack. I have been using it for nearly two years and so it is the best Anti-Spyware program I have ever used. As you can see that you do not have to do a lot in Vista.

The web browser you use to surf the web is very important too. I always recommend to use the latest version of a web browser. Firefox 2.0+ is a little safer than Internet Explorer 7 and you can even go further with Firefox by installing security add-ons. Both of them have a phishing filter which I think is a got to have feature) I mainly use Firefox and occasionally use Internet Explorer 7.

But probably the biggest factor that will affect your security is you. What you browser on the net and your behaviour is extremely important. Try to avoid going to bad sites and be suspicious when opening an email or attachment from a sender that you do not know.

Having a firewall is also a must. Both Windows XP and Vista have a standard Firewall when purchased (It is called Windows Firewall). Windows Firewall does a good job and is free. But nearly all Internet Security Suites have their own firewall to give you extra protection.

In addition, it is very important that you install the required Windows Updates for your PC. To ensure that you do not forget to keep up with updates, turn on ‘Automatic Updates’. This will automatically update your PC without you having to do anything. To find out how to turn on auto-updates or see if you have auto-updates on, please click HERE.
(This article maybe edited for improvements and updates) If you have any Security tips and recommendations, please leave a comment.

Stay tuned for the next article: Security Suite Comparison.

Create Web links for easy access to websites

Question: I need to frequently or daily visit a particular website. Is there a way in which I can easily access a particular site at the click of a button?

Answer: Yes, you can set up some links and place them in your web browser for easy access.

For Internet Explorer 7 users: Once the website you want to link has been loaded, add the website to your favourites under the ‘Links’ folder. (You now should be able to see the link that you have created on the Links Bar at the top. If you do not see the links bar, right click on the tabs bar underneath the menu bar where you type the URL. In the drop-down menu, click on links.

For Firefox users: Once the website you want to link has been loaded, drag the title or logo of the site to the Links Bar. (The Links Bar is just underneath and menu bar where you type the URL) After dragging the website name/logo, you should see a short phrase that will direct you to that particular website when you click it.

If the above method does not work, please click on the ‘Bookmarks’ button in the top menu and add the website to a folder that says ‘Bookmarks Toolbar Folder’