Uncle Albert Einstein 

Tech Tips:

~ If your computer ever 'crashes': just re-boot it by holding down these buttons: Ctrl--Alt--Delete all at the same moment--or turn it off for about 3 minutes--then turn it on again. Don't panic! When in doubt: re-boot.

~ Before you surrender your computer to a shop for repair: re-install the program (like Windows 98, 2000, ME, Office 2000, or other software you have bought) you are having troubles with, then re-boot. Likely as not, you can fix the problem yourself with a quick re-install instead of paying somebody to do this for you!    ;-)

~ If you have a 14.4bps, 28.8, or even a 56kps modem with less than 128 MBs of RAM and you would like faster web surfing: try several of the free 'web (also called 'net accelerators') accelerators' at http://tucows.com and http://superfiles.com You will have to try several, as we can't tell you which one is the better, as it depends upon your system. Also: there are many that allow a free 'trial' download of 15 to 30 days--then you will have to buy the product, or uninstall it and try another.

~ You gotta get a 'Firewall' program to prevent 'hacking' and 'cracking'! Check out the above software sites, or, for the best free one: Zone Alarm--(click here) and update daily! It also has an e-mail protector--and also get an Anti-Virus program! As with some of the above: they offer free ones--and trial versions, but make certain that they will work with your Firewall!

~ You will also need a good 'disk cleaner' from time to time. You can buy some of the high dollar ones on CD--or go to the above software web sites and try the free ones--and the 'trial' versions. Be careful of 'Window Washer,' as it can wipe out your options to your Netscape browser and e-mail room. 'Trust us on this: it happens!

~ Try not to run more then 3 programs at a time (Windows 95 & 98 systems), otherwise: you are asking for a 'crash'--unless you have a killer computer with more than 128 MB of RAM. Once you open a program, which leads you to another program: save and close down the first (and so forth) before the other is opened.

~ Spell Check your emails before you send them by clicking on the 'spell check' icon in your 'preferences' or 'options' menu in your browser--which will check the spelling automatically. This will make your e-mail sender spell check automatically. (Not everyone can speak your tongue).

~ In writing e-mails including 'links' to other web sites: be sure to include the http:// within the body of your link address, which will allow your friend to click on the link and go directly to the other web site from the e-mail. Some people forget and type in www.jasonleigh.org but unless you have the earliest web browser set to 'auto complete,' the address will not be a 'direct link' wherein your friend has to only click on the link from the e-mail to go to the website you are suggesting. (This one worked, as ours is set on 'auto complete').

~ Know your Browser! Check in the 'preferences' section in your browser by clicking on the drop down menu up at the top under the heading of 'Internet Tools' (Explorer), or 'Preferences' under the 'Edit' pull down (Netscape), and click. You can select which fonts the browser will always use  (in the 'mail' section), or to be acceptable; select 'use posted (or 'existing')  fonts and HTML' to use the fonts at whatever website you visit. You can also select the fonts and backgrounds that will be used in creating your emails.

~ Remember that when you send e-mails with the artwork or scripts ('Flowers' 'Curly things' 'Stars,' etc., called HTML) as a background, you are sending a higher amount of information (kbs) for your recipients to download, which clogs up their mail room and takes longer to download. This may tickle your fancy--but maybe not theirs. Plain 'text' with no background (or a different color background isn't too bad) works better if you are not sending a homemade Greeting Card, although some backgrounds are small enough and nice to look at. ;-)

~ Get an e-mail checker (free ones at http://www.tucows.com  and http://www.superfiles.com ) so you can 'delete' unwanted e-mails directly from your ISP (Internet Provider)--and you won't get a virus--or 'Spam'!

~ When someone sends you an e-mail and you want to add the person to your address book: just click on the 'message' file--then click on 'add sender to address book.' This is easier than typing in all of those hundreds of 'addys' (addresses) you have.

~ Run the 'defragment' program at least once a month to arrange your most used programs. It also regains HD space (MBs) and keeps your computer in-tune. Programs will open faster as well.

~ Check at least once a week for updates on all of your software--including Real Audio Player. Check for updates to your Anti-virus software DAILY!!! 

~ Download 'Ad-Aware'  (click here), which discovers and deletes 'spy tags' placed by certain creepy software programs and web sites, which allows them to follow you around in cyberspace. You will still be able to use the software, but they can't keep track of you and your travels. Ad-Aware really works--and it's free to our visitors!!!

~ Speaking of 'The Mail Room': you can increase the capacity of this function and avoid over-loads by doing this: click up on the 'Edit' button and choose 'preferences' for your Browser. Uncheck the '+' sign under the 'Mail' heading, then click once on 'disk space.' Point your mouse cursor into the white window, which shows the amount of space set up by the maker. (We increased our Netscape Browser to 5000 kb--and 1000 kb, respectfully, without any problems). Click 'ok,' and this will be saved the next time you open your Browser! It will increase the amounts of e-mail you can save and store without compressing each time you close the mail room!

You may need to Copyright your website, most certainly if you have created an original work, such as articles, poems, artwork and other such 'creative works.' All you need is a form 'TX,' a CD or printed out version of your website and $30.00 for the registering fee from the U.S. Copyright office: click here  

For Copyright Laws in the U.K. : click here

* We will update this page when we can. Otherwise, click on the link below. These folks are gems: