Internet and Network Tips and Tricks

Internet and Network Tips and Tricks

Customize Your Browser Toolbar

You can customize your system web browser toolbar according to your need. There are many toolbar buttons you never used. You can add some mostly used buttons for example “Paste” or “Print Preview” in your browser toolbar or remove with same option.
If you are using Internet Explorer then right click on the empty area of the toolbar and select the option “Customize”. Here you will find a list of options in left and right panel, if you want to add any toolbar button then simply highlight it from the left panel and click on the “Add” button. But if you want to remove any toolbar button then first highlight it from the right panel and click on the “Remove” button.
You can also change the order that buttons appear by moving them up and down from the list.

How to enable or disable cookies

When you are browsing your internet, the web server placed some text files on your computer as cookies. The main purpose of cookies to save your preferences that you specify for future reference. You can enable or disable your computer web browser cookies, but it is important for you if you disable your browser cookies, may be some website will not work properly.
If you are using Internet Explorer 6.x and later then follow the given steps to enable or disable cookies.
• Open Internet Explorer, click on the Tools then Internet Options.
• Click on Privacy tab from the left top of dialog box and click on Advanced button.
• To enable the cookies, select the Accept option and for disable check the option Override automatic cookies handling then click on block.
• Now restart the browser to execute changes.

Play With Your Favorites

A cool tip to move your favorites list, because there is no any option to copy it. But using a method you can create a printable HTML document.
To create this HTML list, first open Internet Explorer. Here go to File option then you will find here option Import and Export, to run the Import/Export wizard Click here then Next.
Here you can select what to import and export, Select Export Favorites option then click Next button. Next you will get option which folder you want to export. You can select the top folder Favorites or just a specific folder. Select “Export to a File or Address” option and give it a name and location. Click Next and Finish it. Now you have one html file and you can move it any where with you.

How to avoid fake Security Warnings or pop-up?

When you are browsing the internet and suddenly a window pop up with different messages for example” free update for your computer “,”scan your computer with free antivirus”. May be some pop-ups messages helpful for you but you should read first in detail before clicking it. Pop-ups basically an advertiser message or unwanted program and website that might be disturb your computer performance.
If you are working with Internet Explorer and want to block the pop-ups windows and unwanted messages. Open the Internet Explorer and click on Tools menu and go to Pop-up Blocker option, here you can Turn Off Pop-up Blocker to block pop-up from all websites. But you have option to allow some websites for pop-up. For this purpose open the Pop-up Blocker Setting. Here you can add some specific websites name to allow for pop-up and click Add. If you feel any problem to block any pop-up message due to some problem, simply click on the X at the right top of the pop-up windows.

How to insert YouTube movies into PowerPoint slides?

You can insert the YouTube movies into your PowerPoint slides to express your idea or better way to communicate something. You can convey these ideas in more effective ways, if you are using movie files with your simple slides.
Follow the given steps to add YouTube movies into PowerPoint slides:
First of all download the YouTube.com movies and then save on your computer hard drive. Mostly movies are available in flash video file format on YouTube site. You can convert also the downloaded movies from YouTube into any common format, for example, windows media video file (wmv), windows video file (avi) and movie file (mpeg).
First of all open the presentation in which you want to insert movie file. Now click on “Movies and Sounds” option from the Insert” menu and choose the option “Movie from File”.
Now select your movie that you want to insert into slide and click on Ok button.
Here now you are asked “Do you want your movie to play automatically in the slide show? If not, it will play when you click it.”
Recommend choosing Ok button to play automatically even if you want the movie to play when clicked. Finally save your PowerPoint presentation and run it for test.

How to Change the Font size of Web page?

If you are visiting a website or reading an e-mail and there is some problem to read text due to color of page or the font too small. You can change the font and color as well to solve this problem.
• To increase or decrease your font size and color of webpage in Internet Explorer, select the Tools option from the top of your Explorer window and go to the Internet options.
• Here go the General option and then click on Accessibility button on right lower of the dialog box.
• Now change the status of checkbox marked “Ignore font sizes specified on Web pages” and next Ignore Colors specified on Web pages”, end with Ok.
• For change the font size select to View option from the top menu and go to Text size option to change it.

How to speed up your slow internet connection?

Special tip for those who are still using any slow dial-up internet connection due to unavailability of any broadband connection in their area. The Web Accelerator application designed to provide the full acceleration for your routine web sites browsing. With the help of Web Accelerator you can browse your internet 4 to 6 times faster than normal dial-up connection. Basically this services compressing the website text data, images and heavy graphics to open or download this data with high speed.
This technique is more useful for static websites and for email applications but don’t accelerate with secure and downloading audio or video files. Some good web accelerator retains your system cache to reuse websites with faster speed and can also block windows pop-up. If you are using FTP sites and downloading any program using dial-up, then web accelerator is not for you. There are various web accelerator software are free available on internet, visit and download it to enjoy your connection.

How to save your favorite Web Pages on Your PC?

This tip will help you to save any webpage on your disk in proper way. Many times you find a webpage, which want to view or read when you are not connected to the internet. It’s happened to you dozens of times in a month. Here I have solution to this problem, almost all web browsers allow you to save any webpage to your computer and when you can enjoy those pages whenever you want. There are many options in web browser to save your favorite web pages.
First open your favorite web page then go to File menu in web browser to save that page. In File menu choose Save as option here. You should browse to any folder where you want to save that webpage and choose the proper format to save it in.
Webpage Complete (*.htm, *. html)
This option saves the webpage in its regular HTML format. With this format, Internet Explorer saves all the graphics of that webpage only in one folder.
Web Archive, Single file (*.mht)
Using this option, the explorer saves the webpage in a single file in a zipped format which is known as Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension HTML. There are no folders creating with this technique and it save all the graphics of webpage in only one file. If you don’t want to use the code of HTML, this format is better to save any file because this option saves all the files in a single file.
Webpage, HTML only (*.htm, *. html)
With this option you can save only the HTML portion of the webpage, with this option you can save webpage without any graphics. For the next time when you will try to open the page which you have saved though it might be difficult to read because graphics are normally use to hold the pieces of webpage together. If you want to reuse the HTML in a webpage you want to create then choose this option.
Text File (*.txt)
You can save a webpage as text format (text only) with using this option. If you want to save only text from a page and you do not want about the pictures then this is good option for you.
When you want to read that saved page, open your browser and go to File menu and then browse to that folder where you have saved that pages.

Internet Error Codes and Meaning

Sometime you are browsing the internet and trying to open any website, your e-mail and any FTP sites , but you see different error codes there. You should be familiar with these error codes. You can solve these problems if you are well-known with the meaning of error codes.
Error Codes Meaning
400 This is bad request error, First check you may be typing wrong URL name and server could not understand your request.
401 You are trying to open any unauthorized access site or page. Check your username and password if you are trying to open any webpage.
402 Payment Required Error
403 You are trying to open any forbidden page and you are blocked by that domain.
404 Here you are trying to open the webpage that was removed or re-named, also check the URL spelling.
408 This is time out error. you should send the request with in time that the server set for you

How to enjoy Mozilla Firefox using best shortcuts keys?

In Mozilla Firefox, you can use the combination of different keyboard keys to accomplish your routine task. With shortcut keys, you can speed up your surfing without lifting your hands from the keys; otherwise require a conventional mouse to select menus and buttons options. Basically keyboard shortcuts keys help you to save time and you can perform any tasks without leaving the keyboard keys.
Useful Mozilla Firefox shortcuts keys
Shortcut keys Action
CTRL+A Selects the all items on active page
CTRL+B Display the “Organize Bookmarks” dialog box
CTRL+D Include the active page to your Bookmarks list
CTRL+F Display the “Find” dialog box to search text
CTRL+I Display the Bookmarks pane
CTRL+H Display the History sidebar of Mozilla Firefox
CTRL+N Use to open new Mozilla Firefox page
CTRL+P Use to print the active web page
CTRL+R Use to reload the active web page
CTRL+T Display a new Tab in active Firefox window
CTRL+U View the source code of active web page
CTRL+W Closes the active Mozilla Firefox window
CTRL++ Use to increase the font size of active page
CTRL+ – Use to decrease the font size of active page
CTRL+Tab Move to next Tab in Mozilla Firefox
ALT+Home Use to open the home page of internet explorer
ALT+Left Arrow Go to previous page of active page
ALT+Right Arrow Go to next page of active page
ALT+B Go to Mozilla Firefox Favorites Menu
ALT+D Go to address bar of current Firefox page
ALT+E Go to Mozilla Firefox Edit Menu
ALT+F Go to Mozilla Firefox File Menu
ALT+S Go to Mozilla Firefox History Menu
ALT+T Go to Mozilla Firefox Tools Menu
ALT+V Go to Mozilla Firefox View Menu
Tab Move forward between all items on active web page
F5 Refresh the active web page
F7 F7 activate the cursor to move with keyboard
CTRL+SHIFT+DEL Use to clear all Private Data history
CTRL+SHIFT+D Use to Bookmarks all Firefox Tabs
F11 Press F11 key to view any webpage in full-screen view and then again press for normal view.
Press Ctrl+Enter Windows will automatically add both “www” and “.com”. For example, if we type
Press Shift+Enter
Windows will automatically add both “www” and “.net” Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter Windows will automatically add both “www” and “.org”

How to access the restricted or banned websites?

You can access the restricted or banned websites with the help of this tip. You may have problems to accessing your favorite’s politics, news, and sexy websites in your office and other public places. Some time these websites banned by Government, ISP and may be by your office network administrator. This tip is very useful, if you are using internet particularly in school, college and office.
Follow the given points to access the banned website:
Technique 1: Search the banned website, for example www.folsol.com in Google and yahoo search engine then open the cached copy of that page to access the website. You can get also cache link of that website, if you search in Google with keyword cache:URL name and get cache link to access the website.
Technique 2: Another method to access the banned website using its IP address, because you can open the website with IP address instead of actual URL name. This technique bypasses the URL based restrictions. For example if www.myspace.com is banned in your school, you can open it using IP address 216.178.32.51. You can search online IP conversion tools to get IP address of any website.
Technique 3: There are some mini web browsers can help you to open the banned websites, for example Opera Mini Browser, install it and try to open any banned website. Another Real Player browser can successfully help you to access the banned website. This Real Player browser bypasses the many restrictions of website banned tools.
Technique 4: There any many websites Anonymizer tools are available to fetch the banned website. These anonymous surfing tools that protect your identity on the internet and give the access to banned sites. As far as the service provider is concerned you are viewing a page from Anonymizer and not the blocked site.
These tips are very useful to access the banned websites in your university, cybercaf? ,office and other public places.

Hangs up internet dial-up connection

When you are browsing your favorite websites using dial-up internet connection, your incoming calls can create problem with your modem if the call waiting option in your modem sittings is enable. Your modem may be hangs up and disconnects the internet connection frequently. Normally when you disabled the call waiting option in your modem sitting and any body tries to call you, he will get the busy beep during internet connected. You should always disable the call waiting option to avoid modem disconnectivity or hangs up.
• To disable the call waiting option, first click on Start button, then Network Connections.
• Here double click on your internet connection and click on Properties button then General.
• Under General tab select Use Dialing Rules box then click on dialing rules button.
• Here select My Location then click on Edit button. Under General tab select the option To disable call waiting dial and put any number in next box like *32.
• At the end click on Ok button and dial your connection again.

How to enjoy Internet Explorer using shortcuts keys?

In Internet Explorer, you can use the combination of different keyboard keys to accomplish your routine task. With shortcut keys, you can speed up your surfing without lifting your hands from the keys; otherwise require a conventional mouse to select menus and buttons options. Basically keyboard shortcuts keys help you to save time and you can perform any tasks without leaving the keyboard keys.
Useful Internet Explorer shortcuts keys
CTRL+A Selects the all items on active page
CTRL+B Display the “Organize Favorites” dialog box
CTRL+D Add the active page to your favorites list
CTRL+F Display “Find” dialog box to search text on active page
CTRL+I Display the Favorites pane
CTRL+H Display the History pane
CTRL+N Use to open new Internet Explorer page
CTRL+P Use to print the active web page
CTRL+W Closes the active explorer window
CTRL+Tab Go to address bar of current explorer page
ALT+Home Use to open the home page of internet explorer
ALT+Left Arrow Go to previous page of active page
ALT+Right Arrow Go to next page of active page
ALT+A Go to Internet Explorer Favorites Menu
ALT+D Go to address bar of current explorer page
ALT+E Go to Internet Explorer Edit Menu
ALT+F Go to Internet Explorer File Menu
ALT+T Go to Internet Explorer Tools Menu
ALT+V Go to Internet Explorer View Menu
Tab Move forward between all items on active web page
F5 Refresh the active web page
F11 Press F11 key to view any webpage in full-screen view and then again press for normal view.
Press Ctrl+Enter Windows will automatically add both “www” and “.com”. For example, if we type

Move the Location of your Temporary Internet files

When you are browsing your internet, the website you visit placed some temporary files on your computer. The main purpose of temporary files to save your preferences that you specify for future reference. Normally internet temporary files are saved on C drive in windows folder but you can change the location of temporary folder to hide your internet browsing history from others.
If you are using Internet Explorer then follow the given steps to change the location of temporary folder.
• Open Internet Explorer, click on the Tools then Internet Options.
• Go to General tab then Settings button under the Temporary Internet Files.
• Here click on Move folder button then select new location to save Temporary files on different drive or computer.
• Now restart your computer for this change.

How to operate Gmail account using shortcuts keys?

You can operate your Gmail account using keyboard shortcuts keys instead of mouse to navigate. Basically keyboard shortcuts keys help you to save time and you can perform any tasks without leaving the keyboard keys. Many computer applications help you to create your own custom shortcuts keys to enjoy even more flexibility.
Useful Gmail account Shortcut keys
Shortcut keys Action
f Press simple f help you to forward email message to next
Shift+I Use to mark email message as read
Shift+u Use to mark email message as unread
r Reply to the sender of mail
a Reply to the all email recipients
Ctrl+c Use to save current email as draft
Z Press z key to undo any previous action
? Display the keyboard shortcut keys help
c Press c button to compose an new email message
/ Press / button to move your cursor in search box
u Press u key to refresh your email account to view latest email
! Press ! key to mark an email message as spam
p Press p key to move cursor to precious message
. Press . key to display more options
Esc Escape cursor from any current field.

Set Explorer Multiple Homepages

Many web browsers like Mozilla Firefox but now Internet Explorer 7.0 also allow you to set the multiple home pages. You can open all home pages at the same time; this is great option to open your favorite websites with a single click. But you have option to set single home page according to your need.
Follow the given steps to set multiple home pages in Internet Explorer.
• First open the Internet Explorer 7 and go to the option Tools then click on Internet Options.
• Select the General tab, here you will get option “To create home page tabs, type each address on its own line” and type the URL in the Home page section.
• Type one URL in one line then press Enter to type another URL. Press Ok to finish.

Tips to use Pop up Blockers

Pop-up window messages basically used for online advertising to increase the web traffic with minimum cost, but these pop-up messages can be used to damage a computer or also for hacking purpose. In routine when you are browsing the internet and suddenly a new window pop-up dialog box display with different messages for example” speed-up your internet “,”free upload your files or images”. All pop-up messages are not dangerous for you but some unwanted program and website that might be disturb your computer performance.
There are many free pop-up blocker software’s available in market but always download it from well-known sites. Simply Download Google toolbar and install it to use its feature “Block annoying pop-up” to block the pop-up messages, You can say this is simple and best way to block unwanted program.
If you are working with Internet Explorer and want to block the pop-ups windows and unwanted messages. Open the Internet Explorer and click on Tools menu and go to Pop-up Blocker option, here you can Turn Off Pop-up Blocker to block pop-up from all websites. But you have option to allow some websites for pop-up. For this purpose open the Pop-up Blocker Setting. Here you can add some specific websites name to allow for pop-up and click Add. If you feel any problem to block any pop-up message due to some problem, simply click on the X at the right top of the pop-up windows.

Print Pictures from Web Pages

If you are browsing the internet and wants to print a picture from any website. The simple way is first right click on image then chooses the option Print Picture, but the problem here you cannot edit the picture before printing for example color or size of image. The best technique is first save this image on your computer then prints it using any image editing application like Adobe Photoshop or ACDSee.

Tips to Print the Whole Page

If you are browsing any website and want to print it in readable form without any extra graphics. There is a option on many websites ” Print ” to print a page in text format only, otherwise you can print out any webpage with its background colors and with out background colors using Internet Explorer setting. Generally Internet Explorer setting “Print background colors and images” is disable, if you are printing webpage without background colors, then you can speed up your printing and save printer ink. But important thing to always preview WebPages before you print, in Internet Explorer go to File menu, then click on Print Preview option.
To enable or disable print background colors option, open your system Internet Explorer.
Click the Tools menu and then go to Internet Options and open it. Here click the Advanced tab then scroll down to find the option Printing section.
Now check the option “Print background colors and images” then Apply and ok.

Printer Friendly Page

You can prints out any webpage with its background colors and with out background colors using Internet Explorer setting. Generally Internet Explorer setting “Print background colors and images” is disable, if you print webpage without background colors, then you can speed up your printing and save printer ink. But important thing to always preview WebPages before you print, in Internet Explorer go to File menu, then click on Print Preview option.
To enable or disable print background colors option, open your system Internet Explorer.
Click the Tools menu and then go to Internet Options and open it. Here click the Advanced tab then scroll down to find the option Printing section.
Now check the option “Print background colors and images” then Apply and ok.

Run vs. Save When Download A Program

When you are downloading any program or file from the internet, for example any antivirus program or an email attachment from your friends. Here you will get a dialog box with three options to Run, Save or Cancel. Basically this is confirmation from a user “Do you want to run or save this file”, even you can cancel it to abort the downloading.
Here if you select the Run option, only the setup file is downloaded as temp file in your computer temporary internet folder and your computer run this program setup automatically without your confirmation or virus scanning. This is unsafe for your computer if you are downloading this program from any new or unknown source.
But if you select other option Save, You can save this program on your computer in any location. Now you have the full source of program on your computer, you can scan the all program before open it.
Normally you should select the Save option, if you are downloading this program from any free software sites. You have extra security layer if you save the setup file before run it.

Searching Information tips using Search Engine

If you want to get some information about any topic using search engine, the search engine will search the given information and will provide a list of links of websites along brief description about each website. You should use the right search terms for relevant results.
The following points must be noted to search the information on the internet.
• You can type all word in lowercase and also in uppercase, search engine will return the same result. But the best practice is type search keywords always in lowercase.
• Use + sign between words if you want to search the all words. For example, to search history of Football in Europe, type as:
history+Football+Europe
• To search the exact match, write the words in double quotation marks. For example to search the map of Europe, then type as:
“Map of Europe”
• Always avoid to use “and”, “or” with search keywords, because these words will affect the search result.

Indicate Secure Sites for save Transactions

There are many application of e-commerce such as home banking, buying stocks, collaboration electronically with business partners around the globe, marketing and advertising products, providing services to the customers using internet. But you should avoid sending your personal information like your bank account numbers, credit card numbers and password using any unknown site. Always use secure websites for this purpose because secure websites safe your private information from others using encryption and some authentication standards. Internet Explorer always display a small lock icon on the task bar when we open any secure site and start domain name with https\\.

Take action to stop the Viruses

Computer virus program negatively affects the working of a computer by altering user data or information without the permission or knowledge of its actual user. But you can prevent your computer data and resources from viruses, if you follow the given tips and tricks.
• Never open unknown e-mail messages, and always scan first all email before downloading even if you know the sender of the message.
• You should minimize the data transfer between computers through use of USB drives and MP3 player, if it is necessary then always scan first before open it.
• While using the Internet, avoid downloading free ware software without first checking it for virus. Normally the key generator sites are the main source of virus.
• Always use antivirus program with latest version, to detect and remove viruses from your system. You should update antivirus program periodically, because older versions of antivirus may not remove the new viruses.
• Always keep backup your important data, because your can restore your data using backup if a virus deletes your data or modifies it.

Take Bookmarks and Favorites with You

A cool tip to move your favorites list, because there is no any option to copy it. But using a method you can create a printable HTML document.
To create this HTML list, first open Internet Explorer. Here go to File option then you will find here option Import and Export, to run the Import/Export wizard Click here then Next.
Here you can select what to import and export, Select Export Favorites option then click Next button. Next you will get option which folder you want to export. You can select the top folder Favorites or just a specific folder.
Select “Export to a File or Address” option and give it a name and location. Click Next and Finish it. Now you have one html file and you can move it any where with you.

Take your contacts with you using Export option

A cool tip to move your contacts list using Microsoft Outlook, because there is no any option to copy it. But using a Import and Export method you can create a printable or moveable document.
To create this text list, first open Microsoft Outlook. Here go to File option then you will find option Import and Export, to run the Import/Export wizard Click here then Next.
Here you can select what to import and export, Select “Export to a file” under “choose an action to perform” option then click Next button. Next you will get option “create a file of type” here you can specify the file type. In next step you will select which folder you want to export.
Select “Save Exported File as” option and give it a name and location. Click Next and Finish it. Now you have one easily moveable file and you can move it any where with you.

What is a Web Accelerator?

Special tip for those who are still using any slow dial-up internet connection due to unavailability of any broadband connection in their area. The Web Accelerator application designed to provide the full acceleration for your routine web sites browsing. With the help of Web Accelerator you can browse your internet 4 to 6 times faster than normal dial-up connection. Basically this services compressing the website text data, images and heavy graphics to open or download this data with high speed. This technique is more useful for static websites and for email applications but don’t accelerate with secure and downloading audio or video files. Some good web accelerator retains your system cache to reuse websites with faster speed and can also block windows pop-up. If you are using FTP sites and downloading any program using dial-up, then web accelerator is not for you. There are various web accelerator software are free available on internet, visit and download it to enjoy your connection.

Mouse in Windows Environment

Mouse events are the actions that can be performed by using the mouse. Following are the most common events triggered with a mouse.
Left Click
This event occurs when you press the lift mouse button. Windows captures this event and performs different task. Normally this event is used to select a graphical object such as a file icon or to press a button such as the Start button and closing, opening or minimizing an application windows.
Right Click
This event occurs when you press the right mouse button. This event is usually used to display a shortcut menu. The shortcut menu contains frequently used commands that are associated with the selected item.
Up and down Dragging
This event occurs when you press the left mouse button and move the mouse while keeping the left mouse button pressed. This event is used to select more than one item at a time, or to drop and object into another application.

Check program before downloading

Computer security can be defined as the protection of computer and its data from any loss or illegal access from other users. Normally file virus or program virus attaches itself with program files and activates when these program files are run. Infected program files are normally downloaded from Internet. When ever you are trying to download any program from the Internet, always download from trusty sites. On Internet the Software cracker or key generator sites are the main sources of computer virus.
When you are downloading any program or file from the internet, for example any antivirus program or an email attachment from your friends. You must select the Save option, if you are downloading this program from any unknown or free software sites. First scan the downloaded program before open it. You have extra security layer if you save the setup file before run it.

Clear History and Temporary Internet Files

When you are browsing the internet, the Internet browser cached some file on the system as temp files for later use. Specially if your are viewing some private but your web browser will store all your information (visited websites) as a history and your co-workers, family members can trace your activates on the internet with clicking of toolbar history button or with simply press Ctrl+H. If your are using internet at any public place like internet cafe then you should clear your temp file history to safe yourself from cyber crimes.
• If your are using Internet Explorer and wants to delete the history, then first open your Internet Explorer.
• Click on Tools Menu then go to Internet Options. Here in General tab you will find the Delete Cookies and Delete files tab in the center of the screen.
• First click on Delete Cookies option to delete all the cookies in the temporary files folder and then click on Delete files option to delete all the offline temporary files.
• Now click on the Clear History button to clear your recently visited sites. You can set days to keep pages in history here. Be default it is 20 days, but you can change it from 0 to 99 days. If you set it 1 days, the system will clear your browser history automatically after one day.
• Click on Ok button to save your changes.

Enjoy with Internet Explorer shortcut keys

Normally a computer user spending his maximum time daily with internet browsing different sites. But if you are familiar with internet explorer shortcuts keys, you can increase your browsing speed and can handle many online browsing restrictions very easily.
Here are some common internet explorer shortcut keys.
• Press F5 to refreshes the webpage.
• Press Backspace button back to the previous page.
• Press Alt+Home button same time to go home page of the website.
• Press any time Ctrl+N to open the new browser windows.
• Press F11 key to view any webpage in full-screen view and then again press for normal view.
• Press Ctrl+P keys to send the print command for current whole page.
• Press Ctrl+H keys to view your browsing history.
• Press Ctrl+w keys to close the current browser window.
• Press Esc button to stop any page browsing.
• Press Ctrl+Enter Windows will automatically add both “www” and “.com”. For example, if we type