Copy an error message:

When sending e-mail asking for help on a computer problem it helps to send the exact words of the pop-up error message. Press Ctrl+C when the error message comes up and have the text of that message copied to the clipboard and then paste it in your message.

Copy only the files with a different name:

 I love this. When you copy files to a folder where files of the same name exist, there's a "yes to all" button asking if you want to overwrite, but not a "No to all" button. If you hold down the SHIFT key when you click NO, that makes it "no to all" and it will copy only the files with names that don't already exist in the folder.

Organizing files and folders:

Organize your files by grouping them. Try this: Open a folder containing several different subfolders and file types. Right-click any empty space on the window's contents pane, click Arrange Icons By, and then click Show in Groups. Neat. You can also sort what is displayed by clicking on column headings such as NAME, TYPE, SIZE and if you want more columns to be displayed about the files and folders right-click on any column header and select the columns you wish to add.

Suspect a virus and don't have an up-to-date antivirus program?

Run free Trend Micro's HOUSECALL at http://housecall.trendmicro.com/. Now go get Grisoft's free AVG antivirus program that everybody is using at http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1. I'll bet you didn't know that Grisoft is in Prague, Czech Republic? It's a growing reputable company.

Need help buying or selling a new or used car?

Go to Edmunds.com at http://www.edmunds.com/ where you can browse cars by price range, category or name and get Edmunds' free "True Market Value" (TMV®) to help in your dealings. This is a great site.

Clean out where you've been googling:

Someone's always asking about this. Don't want someone to see topics you've googled on? Open www.google.com and put your cursor in the search area with a left-click of your mouse. Then click again and a list of where you've googled will appear below. Move the cursor to highlight the first item and start hitting your delete key repeatedly.

Get instant access to your desktop:

Press the Windows key (The one with the MS flag) and the "D" key and your desktop will be displayed in place of whatever you had on your screen. Press the two keys again to return. Try it now. I use it to go click on my FREECELL icon and play cards while I'm waiting on a download. Want more Windows key shortcuts? Go to http://www.seoconsultants.com/windows/key/

What to delete in MSCONFIG?

Everybody knows by now that a sluggish PC can be speeded up by deleting unnecessary programs from MSconfig (Start/Run, type msconfig, go to Start Menu). But which items should you delete? If you're not sure start googling the items to find out what they do. You can also see a list at http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

Lots of Freeware:

Go to Freeware Home, a nice site at http://www.freewarehome.com/index.html?http%3A//www.freewarehome.com/Desktop/Pranks_t.html. Tons of freeware sorted in categories such as Business, Desktop, Education, Games, Graphics, Home and Hobby, etc.