ONLINE TECH SUPPORT HELP SYSTEM
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| DISPLAY SETTINGS | |
| FILE FORMAT CONVERSIONS | |
| NETWORK | |
| ONLINE COMPUTER HELP | |
| PRINTING | |
| SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS | |
| GAR-PAL TECH-SUPPORT REQUEST | |
| INTERNET VIRUS & HOAX INFORMATION | |
Can't browse to sites on the Gar-Pal School network ?
If the Websense filter won't allow you to view a website, review the information on the Websense page to see the reason why. The filter page will indicated if the site is block and for what reason.
If the Websense page allows you to view the site using "Quota Time", you can view the site, but will be limited on the amount of time allowed.
If the Websense page indicates the site is blocked, it will indicate the reason why. If you need to view the site, contact Gar-Pal Tech Support. Have the complete website address you are trying to access. If justified, the address can be added to our database.
System running slower than normal ?
It never hurts to restart a system. Sometimes a program will not release all the memory it used and eventually your system will run out of memory to operate. It is a good idea to shutdown your system each night. This will solve most simple memory problems.
On a Windows system, Start > Shutdown > Restart, or Start > Shutdown > Shutdown (or Turn off)
On a Macintosh system Special > Restart, or Special > Shutdown
DISPLAY
To change screen resolution - (use some caution....not all systems will support all resolutions)
Most computers will allow a few variations on the size of image displayed on the screen. Be aware that larger resolutions such as 1024 x 768 result in a larger image area by using more, smaller pixels....the result is smaller type or images. In the past 640 x 480 was the most common resolution, then 800 x 600 became the standard. Today many programs and website use 1024 x 768 as the normal standard.
On a Windows system, Right Click on the desktop in unused area > Properties > Settings > Change Screen Area
Your system will usually ask if you want to keep the new settings. If you want to accept the changes, you must click yes or okay. If you do nothing, the settings will usually revert back to the original numbers. This will help if your system will not support the new numbers and your screen becomes unreadable. Don't push any buttons and wait...it will usually revert back to the original numbers and the screen will become readable again.
To add "Groups" to your Gar-Pal Email "Addressbook" -
These directions are for those using the "Simplex" skin. If you are using other skins, the steps are similar, however some labels may be slightly different.
Open your email account with your username and password. On the left side menu, click on the (Add New) after mailboxes. Mailbox Type will be "Mailbox" and the New Folder Name should be "Contacts". This creates a new mailbox named Contacts in the column that had Inbox, Sent Items, Trash, etc. Logout and then Login again.
Click on "Contacts" in the mailbox list or on the large Contacts above the list. Click on "New Group". Give a name to the groups in "File As:", such as "Administrators", "Committee", or "Friends". Now "Real Name" <email.name@company> with the name and email address of the person you are adding to the group. The quotes around "Real Name" are optional, however the brackets <> around the email address are required. When the New Member information is correct, click on "ADD". The name should appear in the members list.
You can now enter another member to this group. TIP: If you plan to enter multiple names with the same email domain such as "@garpal.wednet.edu", when you enter one name, select or highlight this portion and copy it to the clipboard, (Windows use Ctrl+C). When you enter the next name, you can paste the domain from the clipboard with (Windows use Ctrl+V).
When all names have been added to the group, CLICK the SAVE button, or your efforts will be lost.
To send email to the group, click on your INBOX > Compose > Addressbook > Display = Contacts > then click TO, CC, or BCC as appropriate and select the group. TIP: When sending bulk mailings to BCC addresses, include one address (your own) in the TO field. Many email servers will reject all mail sent without an address in either the TO or CC fields. This is to minimize spam.
To change "Skins" on your Gar-Pal Email Account -
Skins change the appearance of your email account but they don't change the original data or emails. Some skins are more colorful and have more graphics, some are more plain and text-based. Plain, text-based skins will load faster which is beneficial if you use slower, dial-up connections to check email. It can also be appreciated on faster systems.
The Gar-Pal email system supports several different skins. Our recommendation, and supported skin is SIMPLEX.
To change skins, locate the icon or text button for "Settings" along your menu. (Depending on which skin you are currently using the location and name will be different.) Click on the "Settings" button and a menu choice page should appear. Near the top of that page will be a menu choice for "Layout" Select your choice from the drop-down list and then click on the SAVE or UPDATE button on that page. The icon for this button may be difficult to locate depending on the skin being used...check the top left corner of that frame. To activate the change you must signout or logout of your account and then re-enter the account. The new look should appear when you login. Your emails will still be in the same place and condition, however the "skin" or window you view the account from will have changed.
To convert a document from one format to another -
Most word processing programs have the option to "Save As". During this process on the source machine, change the "file format" or "file type" to Rich Text Format or RTF. Save the file in RTF format and then open the file on the target machine as usual. Most word processing programs will open RTF files. This usually works for conversions between platforms such as Macintosh and Windows or between programs such as Microsoft Works, Microsoft Word and Open Office.
To convert Excel Spreadsheets, use the SYLK format instead of RTF.
To move files in one format to another computer in another format. - Example: moving Word for Mac files to a Windows computer
On the Mac - - - Open the Macintosh Word text document with "Word for the MAC".
Click on File > Save As > change the file type to Rich Text Format (RTF) and add a DOT R T F ( .rtf ) to the end of the file name.
Correct the filename as necessary to remove punctuation, etc. and save the file to your personal folder on the server (or an external diskette)
On the Windows machine - - - Open your personal server folder, open the RTF file you saved from the Macintosh with "Word for Windows"
Click on File > Save As > Change document type to Word Document and select your final folder destination and Click on Save
The converted file is now in DOC (Word) format in your new location.
TOP
To map a network drive in Windows 2000 to a shared folder on the GARPAL network-
Right Click (RC) on My Network Places > Map Network Drive > Select an unused letter > path is \\server\share (example: \\hawk\home or \\raider\home)
To map a shortcut to a folder or file -
Use My Computer or Explorer to browse to the folder or filename > Right Click on the folder or filename > Create Shortcut > Sometimes the shortcut will be placed in the folder you are currently in, or sometimes to the desktop > Drag the newly created shortcut to the desktop
Looking for simple, online help for a variety of computer problems ?
A good online computer help source can be found at www.computerhope.com
To print only a portion of a website or document -
Website - Using Internet Explorer, select and highlight the portion to print. Right click the mouse and from the options menu, choose print. When the print dialog box appears, move to the "Page Range" section and click on "Selection"
Website - Using Mozilla FireFox, select and highlight the portion to print. From the menu, select File then Print. When the print dialog box appears, move to the "Page Range" section and click on "Selection". Click on OK
Document - To print only specific pages of a document, From the menu, select File then Print. When the print dialog box appears, move to the "Page Range" section and click on "Pages". Enter the page number to print, (example 3), or a range of pages (3-6), or specific pages separated by commas (1,5,6-10,14) Do not include the parenthesis.
To print on both sides of a sheet on the Palouse HS_Library printer -
Using Microsoft Word or Open Office:
Go to the File Menu and select Print
Select the “HS_Library” printer and then click on the “Properties” box
Select the Layout Tab, then set the “Print on Both Sides (Duplex)” to “Flip on Long Edge". Then click on OK.
Choose the number of copies, and specific pages to print and then click OK to start the print job
For other software applications or other duplexing printers, the process will be similar. Most printers will not print duplex by default.
To add a printer in Windows 2000 on the GARPAL network -
Start > Settings > Printers > Add Printer > Next > Network Printer > Find a Printer in Directory > Find Now > Select Printer > OK > Default Printer (Yes/No)
Looking for a software package for Windows ?
Need a program to open or read a ZIP file, try PKZIPREADER - Free Download - www.pkzipreader.com
Need an open-source web-authoring program to create your website, try NVU - Free Download - www.nvu.com
Need a free program to create or open ZIP, TAR, etc files, try FilZip - Free Download - www.filzip.com
Need a program to open or read PDF files, get Acrobat READER - Free Download - Download Acrobat Reader
Looking for a different web browser for home, try Mozilla FireFox - Free Download - Click here for FireFox website
Looking for an email client with spam filtering, etc, try Thunderbird - Free Download - Click here for Thunderbird website
Need JAVA to support your web browser - Free Download - www.java.com
Need a free FTP client, try FileZilla - Free Download - Click here for Snapfiles download site
Need a free productivity suite compatible with all major office suites, try OpenOffice - Free Download - www.openoffice.org
Need a spell checker while using Internet Explorer for browsing or web-mail - Free Download - www.iespell.com
Need a free program to check for ad-ware on your home computer, try Ad-Aware Personal - Free Download - www.lavasoft.com
Need a free program to check for spy-ware on your home computer, try SpyBot Search & Destroy - Free Download - Click here