Top 5 Windows XP niggles solved.

To be honest I have far more than 5 Windows XP niggles as I guess you do but I thought I would start at 5 why 5 I am not sure but hey you have to start somewhere:

1. Windows XP reboots for no apparent reason.

STOP errors cause XP to reboot by default. Right click My Computer and choose Properties – > Advanced. Click Settings underneath Startup and Recovery Options. Uncheck Automatically restart and click OK.

2. File associatons hijacked by a new program.

Open any folder and choose Tools – > Folder Options from the Explorer menu. On the File Types tab, scroll through to the file concerned. Click Change, browse to the application you want to associate with and click OK.

3. Sometimes an operating system can be too helpful. Do you want to get rid of Microsoft Windows XP balloon tips that appear when you leave your mouse hovering over many function icons for too long?

Note that this affects only the Balloon Tips, not the more ubiquitous tool tips that appear in most Windows XP- compatible applications.

There’s a fairly easy way to do it, but you do have to touch your Registry just make sure that you back it up before you do anything.

Here’s what you do:

• Select Run from the Start button.
• Type in regedit in the Open: field.
• Hit Enter or click OK. This opens the Registry Editor.
• Select the folder HKEY_CURRENT_USER and then follow the folder path \software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\advanced\.
• From the Registry Edit menu, select Edit/New/DWORD Value. A new value will appear in the right-hand pane.
• Type EnableBalloonTips and hit Enter.
• Close the Registry Editor.
• Log off from Windows XP and then log on again to enable the change.

4. Mouse buttons reversed (left click becomes right click and vice versa).

Launch the Mouse applet in Control Panel (classic view). Select the buttons tab and ensure that the “Switch primary and secondary buttons” box is not ticked. Click OK. Here’s another tip click the pointers tab and change your mouse pointer for something less boring, there are also a number of good websites that let you download more pointers into this panel.

5. This one is not really a niggle but I find Windows Explorer just too basic and lacks much functionality, but hey try Directory Opus this little beauty will get you hooked.

Do you have any Windows XP niggles if so let me know and I will publish them.

Safari maybe not so goodie..

I thought after my post yesterday I would have a quick look at this browser and download it onto my pc, yes I have to admit it did have a nice look to it but as far as the fastest Web browser in the world I didnt really think it was any faster than Firefox or even IE7, well maybe a little bit faster than IE7. I must admit I didnt use it for very long but noticed that it uses a lot of memory. Its also worth noting that a few security issues have been found in Safari.

Oh well it was worth a try, back to Firefox then.

Mind Maps

I was first introduced to Mind Maps about 3 years ago by a friend at work, and decided to read more about them and found a book by Tony Buzan, after that I was hooked. Mind Maps are a brilliant way to gather your thoughts or if you study you can use Mind Maps to get the most import material down on paper, infact you can just about Mind Map anything. For example I Mind Map my to do list for the coming day, my work list and any other reading material I might want or need to retain information from. When I started I used a notepad but I find PC software the best as it is more versitile. In my opinion (and I have tried and tested many Mind Mapping programs)the 2 best software programs are Mindmapper and the one I use the most is Imindmap this one has not been out very long but is by far the best I have used as it is more true to the laws of Mind Mapping. Both programs have a free trial and worth trying.I have attached some screen shots for you to have a look at:

Mindmapper

ImindMap

Give MindMapping a go (there is lots of info on the internet and many books on the subject, try Amazon) and let me know how you get on.