Change the font when replying to emails in Outlook

Have you replied to an email in outlook and the font type and color automatically changes. If you are like me and want to use your own font type I will show you how to do that.

When you open outlook click on tools and then click on options.

Next click on the “Mail Format” tab

Next click on the “Stationery and Fonts” button

Underneath replying and forwarding messages click on the “Font…” button

From here you will be able to change the font, font size, color and other aspects about the font. If you just want to change the default font for new emails you can click on the “Font…” button under new messages after clicking on the “Mail Format” tab.

Meto Twit....Windows 7 Twitter client

Metro Twit is a Windows 7 twitter client. It allows you to manage your twitter account without being logged on directly to the twitter site. Think of it as outlook is to email as Metro Twit is to twitter (as far as understanding what it does). Metro Twit will allow you to choose sounds for when someone twits you or show you statistics about the activity on your twitter account and more. Metro Twit is designed for Windows 7 and is still in its beta stage. Being that it is in the beta stage you may run into glitches and crashes but it does seem like a cool application and most of the bugs from the beta should be worked out by the time the finished version comes out. You can check out Metro Twit for free on www.metrotwit.com

Dropbox...save files on multiple computers for free

I recently came across a website called dropbox.com. What they do is provide a service that allows you to save a document in your dropbox folder and it will automatically save another copy of the folder’s contents in the dropbox folder on every computer you have dropbox installed on. Dropbox also backs up the items saved in your drop box folder online. The convenience of drop box as opposed to other back up’s like your thumb drive is drop box is automatic. As long as you save it in your drop box folder it is updated on all your other computers. Drop box can even be installed on a variety of different cell phones. Dropbox offers the service for free for up to 2 GB of space if you need more space there is a monthly service charge.

Free A+, Network+ or Microsoft Windows 7 Training videos

If you are looking A+, Network+ or Microsoft Windows 7 Training (test 70-680) then you may want to check out Professor Messer’s website. This an IT professional who offers free training videos on the A+, Network+ or Microsoft Windows 7 test 70-680. This website and access to the videos are completely free online. If you want the files to downloaded in mp3 format then there is a charge for that. I am A+ certified and feel that the information in the videos would have been good enough info for me to pass the test. I would highly recommend this site as a training resource but would also recommend taking some practice test as well before taking the actual exams. The website is http://www.professormesser.com/

Use Windows Live to chat with your Facebook friends

It was not always so but you can use windows live messenger to chat with your Facebook friends. Doing this is easy and seems to have become increasingly popular since lots of messenger users had to use 3rd party applications to combine chat Facebook and MSN chat. This feature also allows you to see your Facebook friend’s status from your MSN messenger account and publish pictures from your windows live gallery to your Facebook account. When you do this you have to grant Windows Live access to your Facebook information and pictures. Just a feature that some might find handy let me know what you think.

Have the date in your word document automatically update

There are documents that include the date and you may want the date to auto update as it is a document that you use regularly and only need to modify the certain phrases to fit the situation that it is being used for. This is common for things such documents for cover letters. I will show you how to do this in Microsoft word.
When you want to put the date in do not type it in instead follow the steps below:

1. Click on insert and chose date and time

2. Select/check the automatically update box

3. Click OK


That is it. Whenever you open this document the date will show the date it is when you open the document.

Hard Drive Defragmenting important byt often under rated

In order to keep your computer performing as fast as possible it is important that computer maintenance is regularly. A maintenance feature that is important bu often not performed by most computer owners is hard drive fragmentation. When data that you put on your hard drive is deleted it leaves spaces and blocks that remain scattered on your hard drive. Over time this you will notice that your computer will operate slower when it comes to certain things such as opening your files if you don't defrag your hard drive. Defragging your hard drive will put these pieces back together. Windows has a built in defragmentation tool. I have listed the steps for using this tool below:

1. Open my computer
2. Right click on your primary drive (usually C drive) and click properties
3. Click on the tools tab
4. Click on defragment now
NOTE: If your hard drive is split into multiple partitions you should defragment each partition.

The problem people have with the Windows defragmentation tool is that really slow and may take many hours. There are defragmentation tools other than the one that comes with Windows and they also work faster. I have provided the link to a faster one by Piriform here.