Virual Editor

How To Restrict Sites In Internet Explorer
Windows XP All Versions - With Internet Explorer 6 or 7 Installed

Did you know that you can easily set Internet Explorer to restrict access to Web sites you don't want to have anything to do with? It's really very easy-to-do. And, should you change your mind later it's just as easy to "un-do".
Open Internet Explorer and click Tools - Internet Options - then click the Security Tab at the top. You with us so far? Good! Now click on the big red circle with the white bar in the middle (Restricted). Now, click the "Sites" button.

OK! Now after you've clicked on the Sites button you'll probably see nothing listed in your "Restricted Sites" list.
Let's add a site to the Restricted Sites list. Note the format of the entry. An asterisk followed by a dot then the domain of the site you wish to restrict. Notice you don't need to add the http:// or the www - just the domain name will suffice. After you've typed in the domain that you wish to restrict, click the Add button then click OK.
You can add as many domains as you want to this list. Would you like to know what happens when you try to visit any of the domains in your Restricted Sites list? Internet Explorer will display the Yellow Information Bar (Windows XP-SP2 - Internet Explorer 6) and restrict potentially harmful or unwanted or unsavory content from being installed or downloaded to your computer. That's a good thing, right?
When a site is added to your "Restricted Sites" list (zone) you'll see the Information Bar when a Web site tries to:

• Install an ActiveX control on your computer
• Open a pop-up window
• Download a file to your computer
• Run active content on your computer
• Run an ActiveX control on your computer in an unsafe manner.

If you have a site in the "Internet Zone" or "Trusted Sites" you might not know any of the above were going on "behind the scenes".

Adding a site (domain) to your restricted sites lists is a good way for you to avoid making a costly error when clicking on a link in a advertisement somewhere that might sound completely legitimate and interesting - but leads to a site on your restricted sites list.

We could give you perhaps four dozen sites we think you should add to your restricted sites list - but that would mean we'd have the potential of being sued 4 dozen times and right now we're broke and cannot afford to be sued :). Maybe someday, when our ship comes in we can cast caution to the wind. But, hmmm, you could "see" what we've added by looking at our visual tutorial on the Web! So, if you want to see, a visual tutorial on adding Restricted Sites (and therefore see in the pictures some of the sites we've added to our restricted sites list) visit this page.

A Secret Word Processor
Windows XP and Windows Vista

Did you know that there is another word processor that comes with Windows XP and Windows Vista besides Notepad and Wordpad? There is. And, you can use it anytime you need to create or edit a simple text file. It's called "edit.com" or as it was once known the "MS-DOS Editor". Edit can be used to create, modify or print a document file like just like you can do with Wordpad and Notepad.

To start Edit.com, go to Start, Run and then type "edit" (without the quotes).

Why would you want to use Edit.com instead of Notepad? Well, there are several reasons, and here are some of them:

It can edit files that are up to 65,279 lines and up to approximately 5MB in size. Edit handles bigger files than Notepad can.

The screen can be split vertically into 2 windows, each of which can display a different file. Side-by-side editing is sometimes a plus.

You can customize the color scheme - easier on the eyes.

And, you can use Edit just because now you know it's there

What The Heck Is That File?
Windows XP and Windows Vista

Have you ever come across a file on your computer that had an unfamiliar file extension? It's probably nothing to worry about, but unknown file types can be disconcerting. There are many files on your computer and some have extensions you may not be immediately familiar with, but that doesn't necessarily make them harmful. However, it's always best to know exactly what a file with an unfamiliar extension is and what program it belongs to - just to be on the safe side.

The easiest way we know to find out what a unfamiliar file type (extension) is, is to visit a site called "What Is That File". It's free and you can look up virtually any file extension on that site and get an answer in seconds. It's quick and easy to use and it can ease your mind if you've come across a file extension that you're not familiar with.

So, the very next time you find a file on your computer with some arcane extension and you would like to know exactly what it is and what program on your computer it's associated with (if any) make a mental note to go to http://www.whatisthatfile.com/ and check it out. It's free and it only takes a few seconds. A few seconds is a small price to pay for piece of mind.

Digiknow All This?
Outlook Express and Windows Mail on Windows XP and Windows Vista (all versions)

Digiknow that you can resize any of the panes (window sections) in Outlook Express or Windows Mail to a size that works best for you by simply dragging the sections so they are wider or slimmer, shorter or taller? Yes you can! You may want to try making the email preview section larger so that you can read your mail without actually "opening" it. Try making the folder view on the left slimmer to allow more area for reading your mail. Play around with sizing and customize; make sure you have your program open full screen too!

Another little tip: If you have a lot of folders set up in Outlook Express, you can jump through the list quickly to get to a specific folder by clicking the first letter of the folder name.

You might like to share photos with your friends and family - if so, you'll want to learn more about our freeware program of the week, which is, as you know by now something called "Hello" AKA "Hello Picasa". And wouldn't you know it - we've got all our bases covered. You can learn more about Hello by pushing on this link. I'll bet you're glad this "review" is now history! If you'd like a picture of it, invite me to chat with you on Hello.

you write and want some great tips and free editing suggestions, I highly recommend that you take a look at our Site Of The Week "Virtual Editor". The technology is amazing and the suggestions you'll receive are worth considering. You must submit your writing in MS Word Doc format. When the software has reviewed your document you'll receive a copy of it back complete with suggested corrections and other interesting facts about your document. A sample is shown below: