Grand Theft Auto: Vice City game Cheat Codes

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City game Cheat Codes

While playing the game or at the pause menu, enter one of the following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function. If you entered the code correctly, a message "Cheat Activated" will appear.

Result	Cheat Code
Health [Note 1]	aspirine
Armor	preciousprotection
Weapons (tier 1)	thugstools
Weapons (tier 2)	professionaltools
Weapons (tier 3)	nuttertools
Raise wanted level	youwonttakemealive
Lower wanted level	leavemealone
View media level when over two stars	chasestat
Better driving skills	gripiseverything
Dodo cars (flying) [Note 2]	comeflywithme
Rhino tank	panzer
Faster game clock	lifeispassingmeby
Faster game play	onspeed
Slower game play	booooooring
Destroy all cars	bigbang
Pedestrians riot	fightfightfight
Pedestrians attack you	nobodylikesme
Pedestrians have weapons	ourgodgivenrighttobeararms
Pedestrians enter your car	hopingirl
Change wheel size	loadsoflittlethings
Only wheels visible on cars	wheelsareallineed
Bikini women with guns [Note 3]	chickswithguns
Heavy traffic	miamitraffic
Pink traffic	ahairdresserscar
Black traffic	iwantitpaintedblack
All traffic lights green	greenlight
Romero's Hearse	thelastride
Love Fist Limousine	rockandrollcar
Trashmaster	rubbishcar
Bloodring Banger (style 1)	travelinstyle
Bloodring Banger (style 2)	gettherequickly
Caddy	betterthanwalking
Pedestrian costumes [Note 4]	stilllikedressingup
Lance Vance costume	looklikelance
Ken Rosenberg costume	mysonisalawyer
Hilary King costume	ilooklikehilary
Jezz Torent (Love Fist) costume	rockandrollman
Dick (Love Fist) costume	weloveourdick
Phil Cassaday costume	onearmedbandit
Sonny Forelli costume	idonthavethemoneysonny
Mercedes costume	foxylittlething
Cars float on water	seaways
Engines are faster	getthereveryfastindeed
Engines very fast	getthereamazinglyfast
All cars are faster	gettherefast
Tommy groupies [Note 5]	fannymagnet
Ricardo Diaz costume	cheatshavebeencracked
Tommy smokes cigarette	certaindeath
Tommy is fatter	deepfriedmarsbars
Tommy has thin arms and legs	programmer
Good weather	apleasantday
Great weather	alovelyday
Sunny weather	abitdrieg
Stormy weather	catsanddogs
Foggy weather	cantseeathing
Reguard target	airship
Commit suicide	icanttakeitanymore

Note 1: If this code is enabled when there is damage on your car, the meter will be reset to zero without changing the visible effects of the damage.

Note 2: You will not be able to fly a helicopter correctly when this code is activated.

Note 3: The women will drop guns when they are killed.

Note 4: Repeat this code to cycle through the various pedestrian costumes, including a cop.

Note 5: Aim your gun at someone and they will attack your target.

7 tips to manage your files better

You work with documents, presentations, graphics, and other files all day—and chances are, you have a lot of them. And that means it takes time to find the documents you need. Even if it's just a couple of minutes here, and a couple of minutes there, it all adds up.

But there is a better way to stop the file clutter—by managing your files more effectively. Digital files are no different than paper files, and if you don't have a good method of organization, things get lost.

Whether you save your files on your computer's hard drive or a shared network location, these tips will help you save the time and headache of searching for files. And if you haven't already familiarized yourself with the search features in Windows Vista, this is the perfect time to learn more.

Check out the reader tips. We've gotten hundreds of great comments on this article from the content feedback tool at the bottom of the page. And many of you left tips you use to organize and find your files. We updated this article to include some of the tips we received.

7 tips for managing your files

Use these tips to help manage your files.

1. Use Documents. For many reasons, it's smart to take advantage of the Documents feature (called My Documents in Windows XP and earlier versions) in Microsoft Windows. To open Documents in Windows, click Start, and then click Documents. Documents provides an easy way for you to store your personal documents.

   By using Documents, you will be better able to:

   • Find files. Windows provides easy access to the Documents folder (and its subfolders) in many places: through the Start menu, the task pane in Windows Explorer, common File Open and File Save dialog boxes, and other places.

   • Back up files. You should back up files regularly—and keeping all your files in one place helps make backup a snap.

   • Keep files separate from programs. By separating document files and program files you reduce the risk of accidentally deleting your documents when you install or upgrade programs.

2. Adopt consistent methods for file and folder naming. Develop a naming scheme for the kinds of files you create most often and then stick to it.

3. Keep names short. Even though Windows allows you to use long file names, it does not necessarily mean you should. Long file names are harder to read.

   Let your folder structure do some of the naming. For example, rather than create a file called Great American Novel Chapter One First Effort.doc, you can build a structure like:

   

4. Separate ongoing and completed work. To keep the Documents folder from becoming too unwieldy, use it only for files you're actively working on. As a result, you can reduce the number of files you need to search through and the amount of data you need to back up. Every month or so, move the files you're no longer working on to a different folder or location, such as a folder on your desktop, a special Archive folder, flash drive, external hard drive, or even on a CD.

5. 
   

6. Store like with like. Restricting folders to a single document type (or predominantly one type) allows you to take advantage of folder templates in Windows Explorer. This makes it easier for you to find files. For example, with all your graphics in a single folder, it's easy to use the Filmstrip view and slide show feature in Windows Explorer to find the right picture for your newsletter.

7. Avoid big folder structures. If you need to put so many subfolders in a folder that you can't see all of them at a glance, consider creating an alphabetic menu.

   

8. Use shortcuts and shortcut links instead of multiple copies. If you need to get to the same file from multiple locations, don't create copies of the file. Create shortcuts to it instead. To create a shortcut, right-click on the file and click Create Shortcut. You can drop and drag the shortcut to other locations.

8 reader tips

Thanks to all the readers who left their own helpful tips and comments on this article.

1. Use abbreviations. Keep file names short by using common abbreviations, such as "MTG" for meeting or "ACTG" for accounting. This makes the file names more descriptive and you can more easily find files through Search if it's necessary.

2. Use thumbnails. Search through folders in the Thumbnail view. They're easier to see and you can put a picture or clip art on the folder (see how below) so that it's more easily recognizable. For example, a folder that contains information about a product can have a picture of the product—or something else that reminds you of the folder contents.

   To view your folder list in Thumbnail view, on the Documents folder, in the toolbar click View and then select Thumbnail.

   To put a picture on the folder, right-click the folder and click Properties. In the Properties dialog box, click the Customize tab. In the Folder pictures area, click Choose Picture.

3. Use common names. To make it easier to search for documents, name your files and folders with easily found names, such as model numbers, project names, or the project lead in the title.

4. Don't save unnecessary files. Be selective about the files you keep. You probably don't need to keep them all. With e-mail, for example, you rarely need to keep everything you receive.

5. Use Recent Items. To find a file you just worked on, use Recent Items (called My Recent Documents in XP) in the Start menu.

6. Put Documents on the desktop. Put a shortcut to Documents on the desktop. You can save several clicks of the mouse to get where you want to be sooner.

7. Organize files by dates. Use a date in the document name. Such as jeb100201, which would mean October 2, 2001. This puts all the Jeb materials together and sorted by date.

8. Color code your folders. I have a third party program which allows me to "color" certain folders in Documents that I use every day. This allows me quick access to open or save a document

3 ways to simplify your PowerPoint presentations

Microsoft Office PowerPoint is a terrific medium because it allows you to reinforce your message with visual prompts. But too often, the power of PowerPoint is lost because the speaker doesn't use it to help viewers focus on the message. Instead, PowerPoint itself becomes the focus.

If you want to feel more relaxed and confident the next time you're using PowerPoint to deliver a presentation, try these three tips to maintain the focus on your topic—not the medium.

Be consistent on all pages by using the Master View

If you're tired of typing the date, presentation title, or page number on every page in your presentation—or changing bullet styles and indentations—listen up. PowerPoint will do this for you! The Master View feature allows you to enter information once on either the title page or an interior slide page. Once entered, the information is used consistently throughout the presentation, and remains there until you change it.

I use this feature in every presentation I create. It makes my life a little easier to know that each page will be consistent without much effort on my part. Let's take a look specifically at how PowerPoint can automatically take care of the date, footer, and page numbers for you.

From anywhere within your presentation, go to the View menu, click Master, and then click Slide Master. You will now be in the Master View mode, as shown here.

Note four key areas in this view, which shows you the presentation's title page.

1. On the slide itself are two large boxes that allow you to edit the Master title and subtitle styles.

   Less obvious are three remaining areas, which I've circled in red.

2. In the left navigation bar, you will see two thumbnail slides. One is the Title Slide view, and above it is the slide view for the rest of the interior slides. In the example above, you can see that I have selected the Title Slide.

3. A small, useful toolbar called Slide Master View appears as well. In this article we use only Close Master View.

4. Finally, note the bottom portion of the slide. It shows the date, footer, and number areas.

To include the date from the Master title page:

1. In the Date Area box, highlight and enter the date you wish to use.

2. Click Close Master View on the toolbar.

You should now see the date automatically noted on your title page, as shown below.

To make similar changes on slide pages that follow the title page, simply select the slide page thumbnail on the left within the Master View. You can then make changes to the bullet styles and indentations PowerPoint automatically sets up for you. Don't like a bullet color? Select the interior slide Master View and change it to the color you want. The example below shows some of the items you can change on the Master slide.

Tip Page numbers are added by default. However, if you want to remove page numbers from your presentation, remove <#> from the Number Area.

Note If you want a date to appear on both your title and interior slide pages, you must edit each page type from within the Master View.

Reinforce your message with automated charts and graphs

You've probably seen presenters who have very cool graphs and charts within their presentation. You can import these from other programs such as Microsoft Office Excel, but did you know you can perk up your slides without importing from those programs?

People retain information in different ways—by reading text, by seeing graphical representations, and by listening to what you say. So, if you want your audience to really remember your message, it's important to learn to create at least simple charts or graphs in PowerPoint. With the automated formats it provides, you have literally dozens of ways to build a unique presentation and make your message memorable.

To insert a chart or graph in your presentation:

1. Go to the Insert menu, and click Chart. PowerPoint will drop in a preformatted basic chart for you. If you like the format it chose, simply type in the text you need in the datasheet box provided for vertical and horizontal axis. Click anywhere on the slide and your chart will appear on the slide with your information. That's it!

   

2. To change the format, right-click within the chart. In the example shown, you would right-click the area outside the colored bars, but still within the chart—not in the datasheet box. You'll know you've clicked the correct spot because you will see the menu below pop up. If you don't, move your cursor to a different spot and keep trying until you see this menu.

   

3. On the menu that appears, click Chart Type to choose from 34 different chart options such as bar, pie, and bubble.

   Note You can choose from Standard or Custom Types.

4. Once you have selected a Chart type and option, choose a Chart sub-type you like. (Each chart option offers several different color and visual styles.) Want to see the style in a larger view? Select Press and Hold to View Sample.

   Note Custom Type charts do not have this viewing option.

   

5. Once you have made your selection, click OK.

6. Type in the text you need in the datasheet box provided for vertical and horizontal axes. Click anywhere on the slide and your chart will appear on the slide with your information.

   

Jump easily between pages

If you didn't know how to use a hyperlink, you wouldn't be reading this online article. You may already use hyperlinks for quick and easy access to the Web if you are connected to the Internet while making your presentation. Too often, however, a cool way to use hyperlinks within a presentation is overlooked. It happens when presenters include additional information at the back of a presentation as "back up" slides and then never refer to them because it's too difficult to navigate to the end and return to the main portion of the presentation. But if the information is important enough to reference in back up, why ignore it?

With PowerPoint hyperlinks, you don't have to because it's easy to jump between slides.

To insert hyperlinks between slides in your presentation:

1. Locate the first slide you will be on when you want to briefly jump to another slide. On this slide, highlight the word or phrase that is the most obvious descriptor of the second slide. On the Insert menu, click Hyperlink.

   

2. In the Insert Hyperlinks dialog box, under Link to, click Place in This Document.

3. Under Select a place in this document, click the slide to which you want to jump. Use the Slide Preview to ensure that you are selecting the correct page. Click OK. Your hyperlink is now in place on the text and page you selected.

   Note Trying to check whether your link works? Hyperlinks can only be used in the View Show mode.

   

4. The final step in this process is to go to the second slide you selected (in this example, page 3) and insert another hyperlink that allows you to jump back to the first slide. Follow steps 1-3 to do this. Once complete, you now have two hyperlinks within your presentation that allow you to move back and forth between slides like a pro.

Tips for working from home

More and more companies and organizations not only allow but also encourage telecommuting. If your organization offers that option, you can use your mobile PC to be productive in the comfort of your home or another remote location. In this article, I discuss the tools of the trade and provide tips to ensure that the familiar home environment doesn't prevent you from keeping your focus and achieving your goals.

Tools of the trade

To efficiently telecommute, you'll need the following tools.

Internet access: Most teleworkers have access to the Internet at home so that they can connect to their corporate network. As a home user, you can choose from three Internet access options:

• DSL: DSL stands for digital subscriber line. It uses ordinary telephone lines and a special modem to provide an Internet connection that can transmit high-bandwidth information to a user's computer. A DSL line can carry both data and voice signals. The data part of the line is a dedicated connection to the Internet and does not interfere with the use of the telephone. DSL is high speed and is always connected to the Internet.

• Cable Internet: Cable Internet uses your local cable TV line to receive broadband Internet content. This data rate far exceeds that of modems and is about the same as DSL. Your local TV cable company is typically the cable Internet service provider.

• Satellite Internet: If cable or DSL aren't available in your area, or if the slow dial-up access speeds are not acceptable, consider using satellite internet. It's available to you if you live in the northern hemisphere and have an unobstructed view of the southern sky. The service is expensive and the data rate is not as fast as a direct line, but it is a good connectivity alternative if you live in an isolated location.

Computer: Of course, you'll need a computer! You can use a desktop computer or a mobile PC. If you can take your mobile PC home from the office, you won't have to install the same programs on your desktop computer. If you do need to use a desktop computer to connect to your organization's network remotely, you may need to install additional software to meet your company's connectivity and security requirements.

Dedicated space with some privacy: I've heard more than one frustrated telecommuter state that they have a hard time focusing when they work at home. When I ask where their desktop computer or mobile PC is located, they usually say it's on the dining room table. By setting up your workspace in a busy location, you almost guarantee distractions. Instead, set up a safe, healthy, and efficient workspace with easy access to your computer, a phone, reference materials, and supplies.

Communication tools: When telecommuting, make sure that your colleagues, customers, and manager can communicate with you at all times. Whether you're in the office or working remotely, make it easy for people to contact you. Here are some suggestions:

• Share your phone number with people you work with regularly and leave your contact information with your manager and one or two additional contacts (such as your administrative assistant or receptionist). Also, consider using call forwarding to your home or cell phone so that you receive incoming calls wherever you're working.

• Consider using instant messaging (IM). Similar to a chat room, IM is a fast means of communicating with one or more people in real time over the Internet. IM also gives you a way to show and update your communication status throughout the day. For example, when you need a couple of hours of undisturbed concentration, set your status as "Busy" and let everyone know that you'll be slower than usual to reply to e-mail messages and phone calls.

Tips for staying focused

The tools of the trade don't guarantee success—you'll also need some strategies to help you stay focused.

• Start working at the same time. Treat telework days like regular workdays: get up, get dressed, and be "at your desk" at the usual time.

• Establish a schedule. Keep work hours similar to the ones you would keep if you were working at your office. Your manager and your co-workers appreciate knowing when you are available.

• Limit distractions. Be careful not to replace office-based interruptions with home-based ones (such as children, neighbors, and friends).

• Plan ahead. Take the appropriate work home. Some work may be better suited for the home office than other work, so be sure to plan the telework a day ahead.

• Take breaks. Plan time to get up and move around. Consider going for a walk or a run during your lunch break to keep your mind fresh.

• Focus on objectives. Work with your manager and colleagues to define clear goals and objectives against which your performance can be objectively measured.

Telecommuting is not for everyone, but if your job lends itself to working remotely and you are self-disciplined and highly motivated, you can reap the rewards of working effectively at home or remotely. Using the information presented in this column, you can take advantage of the opportunity to work efficiently away from the office while remaining in touch with your colleagues and customers.

7 ways to organize your e-mail

With meetings and the general chaos of a normal work day, your e-mail Inbox can quickly get cluttered. An unorganized mailbox can make it difficult to find the e-mail you need and know where to get started. This messy situation can be remedied. Microsoft Office Outlook offers great tools that help you organize your messages in meaningful, easy-to-control ways. Whether you're already using Outlook 2007 or still using Outlook 2003, you'll be able to stay on top of your mail.

Not using Outlook at all? Perhaps you're using Outlook Express, which comes as part of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Or maybe you have Windows Vista and are using the new Windows Mail. Both programs have an interface that's similar to Outlook, but don't offer the same breadth of tools for e-mail management. Find out more about Outlook Express and Windows Mail.

This article shows some tools in Outlook that you can use to manage your e-mail. You can use one of these tools—or a combination of tools—to help shrink your Inbox and make it easier to find the information you need.

1. Group similar messages in folders

By creating new mail folders you can group messages related to each other. For example, you can group messages by topic, project, contact, or other categories that make sense to you. You can even create a folder for all the messages from your manager or that include tasks that you have to complete.

To group messages in folders:

1. In the Outlook Navigation Pane, click Mail.

2. In the Mail Folders section (called the All Mailbox section in Outlook 2003), right-click one of the folders and click New Folder.

3. Type a name for the folder.

4. Select where to place the folder. You can set it apart as its own folder, or list it among your other Inbox folders.

5. Move the desired message into the new folder.

2. Create Search Folders to find messages fast

Search Folders are a quick and convenient way to look at predefined collections of e-mail messages. They don't actually store any messages themselves, but instead are virtual folders that offer a view of all the messages stored in your mailbox depending on the attributes you've defined. Outlook provides default Search folders—such as Unread Mail—but you can also create your own. For instance, you can use Search Folders to help you find all the information related to a particular project, an important client, or an upcoming conference.

Creating Search Folders in both Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 is easy.

• In Mail, on the File menu, point to New, and then click Search Folder.

• Opt whether you want to use a predefined Search Folder or create your own.

• Follow the instructions onscreen.

3. Sort messages quickly

You can find messages in mailbox folders more quickly by changing how they're sorted in your e-mail folders. For example, you can arrange your e-mail by date, sender, file size, or even by conversation, which pulls up all messages by the subject line.

Change message sorting in Outlook 2007

1. At the top of your mail folder, select the Arranged by: tab.
   

2. 
   

3. Click your view option.

Change message sorting in Outlook 2003

1. In the Outlook Navigation Pane, click Mail.

2. On the View menu, point to Arrange By and then click a view option.
   

4. Route mail efficiently using mailbox rules

By creating rules for Outlook, you can automatically perform actions on both incoming and outgoing messages based on the criteria you establish. For instance, you can automatically forward to your manager all messages sent by a certain person as soon as they arrive, assign the category Sales to all messages you send that have the word "sales" in the Subject line, and much, much more. Routing mail efficiently not only organizes your mail for you—but also frees up your time from performing routing tasks. Learn more about how to create and manage rules in Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003.

5. Reduce unwanted e-mail with junk filters

Keep distracting and unwanted messages out of your inbox by using Outlook Junk E-Mail filters. These filters send e-mail flagged as junk to a separate mail folder under your Mailbox. You can review the contents of this folder to ensure no legitimate messages have been sent there, and if so, you can adjust the filter to avoid flagging such messages in the future. Learn more about the Junk E-mail Filter in Outlook 2003—and the improved Junk Mail filter in Outlook 2007.

6. Lay on the color

One quick easy way to distinguish between e-mail messages is to color code them. By using color, you can quickly identify messages from certain contacts by customizing your Inbox to automatically color messages. For example, it's an easy way to identify important messages from a key customer, your manager, or an important contact. Even better, it's quick and easy.

Color-code messages in Outlook 2007

1. On the toolbar, click Categorize.

2. Click All Categories.

3. In the Name list, select the check box for the category whose color you want to change.

4. Click the arrow next to Color, and then click the color that you want.

Learn more about color in Outlook 2007.

Color-code messages using Outlook 2003

1. In Outlook Navigation Pane, click the Mail category.

2. Select an e-mail message from a contact.

3. On the Tools menu, click Organize.

4. Under Ways to Organize Inbox, click Using Colors.

5. Select the color you wish and click Apply.

7. Flag for follow up

You can flag e-mail messages, tasks, and more with colored Quick Flags to help classify them or mark them for action. Flags can remind you to follow up on an issue, indicate a request for someone else, or set a reminder for a message or contact. Best yet, they make organizing your mail folders a breeze, because you know exactly what to do—and when to do it.

Flag messages in Outlook 2007

In Outlook 2007, flagging performs the same functions as in previous versions—only it's done a little differently. Previously, you could choose from different flag colors, but now they are not associated with colors by design. That way, you can determine the colors that make sense to you. Learn more about flagging in Outlook 2007.

4 ways to take control of your e-mail Inbox

Do you have an effective way to process and organize your e-mail so that you can get to an empty Inbox on a routine basis? If you have lots of e-mail in your Inbox—we know people with as many as 7,000 messages—you might want to rethink your processing methods. Really, it is possible to empty your Inbox. The key is to evaluate how you are processing and organizing your e-mail and make some changes.

No doubt you've opened an e-mail and thought, "Hmmm, not sure what to do with this. I'll deal with it later!"—and promptly closed the message. If you do this over and over again, it doesn't take long to end up with several hundred (or thousand) messages in your Inbox.

Developing a new approach to processing your Inbox will help you to gain more control, improve your response time, and keep up with critical actions and due dates.

This article will cover 4 key factors that will help you process your e-mail more efficiently.

1. Set up a simple and effective e-mail reference system

The first step toward an organized Inbox is understanding the difference between reference information and action information.

• Reference information is information that is not required to complete an action; it is information that you want to keep in case you need it later.

• Action information is information you must have to complete an action.

Most people receive a considerable amount of reference information through e-mail. Sometimes as much as one-third of your e-mail is reference information. So it is essential to have a system that makes it easy to transfer messages from your Inbox into your e-mail reference system. An E-mail Reference System is a series of e-mail file folders where you store reference information to ensure you have easy access to it later. Learn more about setting up an E-mail Reference System. Once you take care of filing your reference information, you can use the next three steps to handle e-mail you have to do something with, your action information.

2. Schedule uninterrupted time to process and organize e-mail

How many interruptions do you get every each day? It's nearly impossible to complete anything when you allow constant interruptions from the phone, people stopping by your office, and instant messaging. So it's critical that you set aside uninterrupted time to process and organize your e-mail.

Many e-mail messages require you to make a decision. Good decisions require focus, and focus requires uninterrupted attention. You need to establish a regular time each day to process your e-mail so that you can empty your Inbox. Of course, you can scan your e-mail during the day for urgent messages or requests from your boss.

Book yourself a recurring appointment for an hour a day to process e-mail, and mark it as "busy." During this time don't answer the phone or take interruptions, and work only on processing your Inbox.

At first, keeping these appointments will take discipline, but over time the discipline becomes habit. And once you get to zero e-mail in your Inbox, you'll see the value of this one hour a day and you'll stick to it like glue.

3. Process one item at a time, starting at the top

When you sit down to process your e-mail, the first step is to sort it by the order in which you want to process it. For example, you can filter by date, subject, or who the e-mail is from. In Outlook 2003, click the Arranged By: box at the top of your Inbox and click how you want to arrange your e-mail.

Filter your e-mail by a number of different options.

Tip: If you use Outlook 2003, enable the preview pane so that you can view your messages without having to open them. To enable the preview pane, on the View menu, click AutoPreview.

Resist the temptation to jump around in your Inbox in no particular order. Begin processing the message at the top of your Inbox and only move to the second one after you've handled the first. This can be hard at first when you might have thousands of messages in your Inbox. But as you reduce the number of messages over a few sessions, eventually you'll get to the point where you can process the 60-100 messages you get every day and get your Inbox down to zero every day.

4. Use the "Four D's for Decision Making" model

The "Four D's for Decision Making" model (4 D's) is a valuable tool for processing e-mail, helping you to quickly decide what action to take with each item and how to remove it from the Inbox.

Decide what to do with each and every message

How many times have you opened, reviewed, and closed the same e-mail message over and over? Some of those messages are getting lots of attention but very little action. It is better to handle each e-mail message only once before taking action—which means you have to make a decision as to what to do with it and where to put it. Under the 4 D's model, you have four choices:

1. Delete it

2. Do it

3. Delegate it

4. Defer it

DELETE IT

Generally you can delete about half of all the e-mail you get. But some of you shudder when you hear "delete." You're hesitant to delete messages for fear you might need them at some point. That's understandable, but ask yourself honestly: What percentage of information that you keep do you actually use?

If you do use a large percentage of what you keep, then what you're doing is working. But many of you are keeping a lot more than you use. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you decide what to delete:

1. Does the message relate to a meaningful objective you're currently working on? If not, you can probably delete it. Why hang on to information that doesn't relate to your main focus?

2. Does the message contain information you can find elsewhere? If so, delete it.

3. Does the message contain information that you will refer to within the next six months? If not, delete it.

4. Does the message contain information that you're required to keep? If not, delete it.

DO IT (in less than two minutes)

If you can't DELETE IT, then decide, "What specific action do I need to take?" and "Can I DO IT in less than two minutes?" If you can, just DO IT.

There is no point in filing an e-mail or closing an e-mail if you can complete it in less than 2 minutes. Try it out—see how much mail you can process in less than 2 minutes. I think you will be extremely surprised and happy with the results. You could file the message, you could respond to the message, or you could make a phone call. You can probably handle about one third of your e-mail messages in less than two minutes.

DELEGATE IT

If you can't DELETE IT or DO IT in two minutes or less, can you DELEGATE IT?

If you can delegate it, do it right away. You should be able to compose and send the delegating message in about two minutes. Once you delegate the action, delete the original message or move it into your e-mail reference system.

DEFER IT

If you cannot DELETE IT, DO IT in less than two minutes, or DELEGATE IT, then the action required is something that only you can accomplish and that will take more than two minutes. Because this is your dedicated e-mail processing time, you need to DEFER IT and deal with it after you are done processing your e-mail. You’ll probably find that about 10 percent of your e-mail messages have to be deferred.

There are two things you can do to defer a message: turn it into an actionable task or turn it into an appointment. When you're using Outlook 2003, you can DEFER e-mails with actions by turning the e-mail into a task on your Task List. Name the task to clearly state what action is required so that you don't have to reopen the e-mail message. The result is a clearly defined list of actions in your task list that you can prioritize and schedule to complete on your Calendar. Learn how to:

• Turn a message into a task

• Turn a message into a meeting request

Do it daily

Using the 4 D's model on a daily basis makes it easier to handle a large quantity of e-mail. Our experience shows that on average, people can process about 100 e-mail messages an hour. If you receive 40 to 100 messages per day, all you need is one hour of uninterrupted e-mail processing time to get through your Inbox. Our statistics show that of the e-mail you receive:

• 50 percent can be deleted or filed

• 30 percent can be delegated or completed in less than 2 minutes

• 20 percent can be deferred to your Task List or Calendar to complete later

Of course, if you have a backlog of hundreds of messages, it will take time to get to the point where your daily routine keeps you up to date. It's important to get that backlog down, so I would suggest setting chunks of time aside to work through it. Then you can really enjoy processing your messages every day using the 4 D's.

5 good computing habits

Working off a slow, disorganized computer can be frustrating—and it happens to the best of us. This article is designed to give you some easy-to-follow guidelines on how to keep your computer on the right track using tools in Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows XP.

1. Organize your folders

We all know how easy it is to dump files into the wrong folder when we're in a hurry. But one way to make sure you'll keep your files organized is to remove the clutter with a filing system that makes sense for the way you use your computer. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Start clean
  Begin by deciding which files you no longer need on your hard drive.

• Think it through
  Take the time to plan the best way to organize your files. How do you spend your time on the computer and what do you create? Do you work with photos and image editing software, surf the Web, write short stories, research school projects, or play games? The folders you create in Documents (called My Documents in Windows XP) can be easily tailored to show you just the kind of data about your files that you need to track.

• Use subfolders
  After you have an idea of the kinds of items you produce and want to save, create folders and subfolders to store your files. Be sure to use logical, easy-to-understand names. For example, within Documents, you might create additional folders called Projects, HR Benefits, and Career. Then, within the Projects folder, you could create subfolders for each different project.

Windows Tip
To create a new subfolder with Windows Vista or Windows XP, simply right click anywhere in the folder, select New, and Select Folder. Type the name for the new folder and press Enter. For more tips about creating a well-organized filing system, see 7 tips to manage your files better.

Create a new folder using the File and Folder task pane.

2. Clean up your hard disk

Now that you've organized your files and folders, and cleaned up your desktop, you can organize the data itself. Windows includes two utilities—Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter—that help you free up more space on your hard drive and help your computer work more efficiently.

• Disk Cleanup compresses your old files so you can free up storage space.

• Disk Defragmenter scans your hard drive and consolidates files that may be scattered across the disk

Not sure how often to run these utilities? It's really up to you—some people like to run both weekly, others prefer monthly, and a few only run them every few months. It's not a bad idea to do both at least once a month. Windows Vista users take note: Disk Defragmenter is automatically scheduled to run once a week (Sunday at 4 a.m.). You can change the scheduled time for this feature or turn it off, if you prefer.

To find both programs, click Start, point to All Programs, then point to Accessories, and then choose System Tools.

3. Use System Restore

System Restore is one of those programs that can be a life-saver when you've been the unfortunate recipient of unstable software, a badly timed power outage, or a damaging thunderstorm. System Restore records important documents, settings, and preferences on your computer. If the unthinkable happens and your computer files are damaged or inaccessible, you can use System Restore to restore your computer back the same state it was in before the data was lost.

System Restore creates restore points daily, and whenever you install device drivers, automatic updates, and some applications. Still, it's a good idea to get into the habit of creating a system checkpoint (called a restore point) whether you're about to install new software, or take any action you suspect might make your computer unstable. That way, if there's any conflict at all, you can restore your computer to the point just before you began the installation.

To use System Restore:

1. Click Start, and choose All Programs.

2. Point to Accessories, then point to System Tools, and then choose System Restore.

3. When the program begins, choose Create a restore point and click Next.

4. Enter a description of the restore point and click Create. After a few seconds, the program will tell you the date, time, and description of the new restore point.

5. Click Close to exit System Restore.

Use System Restore to put your computer back the way it was before the data was lost.

4. Keep Windows and Office up-to-date

Computer programs are continually improved based on customer feedback and continuing product testing. As problems are resolved, you should benefit from those improvements. By checking Microsoft Update regularly, you can make sure you've got the most recent Windows and Office improvements available to you.

If you're using Windows XP, visit Microsoft Update to start the update process. If it's your first time to visit Microsoft Update, you might need to sign up to the service. Windows Vista users don't need to sign up for Microsoft Update: an account is automatically created for you during the registration process.

To use Microsoft Update:

1. For high-priority updates, click Express Install (recommended). If you're just looking for general updates that aren't critical, choose Custom Install.

2. The site will do a quick check of your system to see whether any new updates are available that have not been downloaded to your computer. When the check is finished, a window appears showing you any new updates ready for download.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions and click Install Now to update your computer with the latest software improvements.

Once you've visited the Microsoft Update site, you should also configure your computer to receive critical updates automatically. This service is called Automatic Updates (Windows Update in Windows Vista) and it's free. Learn how to turn it on in Windows Vista and Windows XP.

Turn Windows Update on in Windows Vista

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Under Windows Update, select Turn automatic updating on or off.

3. Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting Automatic: Automatically download recommended updates for my computer and install them. You can schedule Automatic Updates for any time of day. Remember, your computer must be on at the scheduled time for updates to be installed. We recommend choosing a time when you will not be using the computer for other tasks.

   Change Settings dialog box

Turn Windows Update on in Windows XP

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Click Performance and Maintenance.
   
   Note: If the Performance and Maintenance category is not visible, click Switch to Category View.

3. Click System.

4. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Automatic Updates tab.

5. Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting Automatic: Automatically download recommended updates for my computer and install them. You can schedule Automatic Updates for any time of day. Remember, your computer must be on at the scheduled time for updates to be installed. We recommend choosing a time when you will not be using the computer for other tasks.

   System Properties dialog box

6. If you choose to have Automatic Updates notify you in step 5, you will see a notification balloon when new downloads are available to install. Click the notification balloon to review and install updates.

Important : If you choose an option in step 5 other than the one we recommend, you must download and install every critical update. If you download the updates, but forget to install them, your computer will not be protected with all the latest enhancements.

5. Run antivirus software AND a spyware detection and removal tool

Updating your Windows software is just the first step in keeping your computer safe. Next, you'll want to download and install antivirus software and keep it up to date. Your computer may have come with a free trial of antivirus software, but if you don't renew your subscription, you won't be protected from all the latest threats.

Save time with quick computer shortcuts

As a new mom, Rachel Brown is always looking for ways to save time. "When I have the chance to sit down at my computer, I need to get at what I'm working on as quickly as possible," says Brown, who uses her computer to keep in touch with family and friends.

Brown discovered the power of shortcuts and keystrokes while she was still working. "Before taking my maternity leave, I worked in a bilingual environment," she explains. "I learned the keystrokes for the French accents that were essential in all of my correspondence." She also learned a few other time-saving tricks such as highlighting text, using the Bold function, and creating new documents.

If you're looking to work more efficiently in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Internet Explorer, the key is using programmed shortcuts.

Driving around your desktop

To...	Use this shortcut
Select a file/folder/icon	Type the first letter of the file. If you have several files starting with the same letter, continue hitting the letter key until your cursor lands on the file or folder you want.
Search for a file/folder	F3
Rename a file/folder	Select the file/folder, click F2, and then re-type the name
Find out when the file or folder was created, by whom, and how big it is	Select the file, right-click, and then click Properties
Display the Start menu	Ctrl + Esc
Create a shortcut on your desktop to your favorite file/folder	Drag the file/folder icon to your desktop
Scroll between open items	Alt + Tab, then hold down Alt while clicking Tab to reach the desired file or program

Working with Word

To...	Use this shortcut
Select text	Shift + Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow to highlight text
Copy selected text	Ctrl + C
Cut selected text	Ctrl + X
Paste selected text	Ctrl + V
Undo your last action	Ctrl + Z
Select all the text within your document	Ctrl + A
Bold text	Ctrl + B
Italicize text	Ctrl + I
Underline	Ctrl + U
Decrease font size	Ctrl + Shift + <
Increase font size	Ctrl + Shift + >
Change font	Ctrl + Shift + F, then use the arrow keys to reach the new font
Change font size	Ctrl + Shift + P, then use the arrow keys to reach the new font size
Create page break	Ctrl + Enter
Create new document	Ctrl + N
Open My Documents window	Ctrl + O
Close a document	Ctrl + W
Save a document	Ctrl + S
Print a document	Ctrl + P
Preview what you're about to print	Alt + Ctrl + I

Accelerating Excel

To...	Use this shortcut
Move right to left, cell by cell	Tab
Move up and down, cell by cell	Enter
Erase data in current cell	Backspace
Return to the beginning of the row	Home
Enter the date	Ctrl + ; (semicolon)
Enter the time	Ctrl + Shift + : (colon)
Start a formula	= (equal sign)
Check the spelling of titles or words within the cells	F7
Find out about the style within the cell	ALT + ' (apostrophe)
Display the Format Cells dialog box	Ctrl + 1
Apply the general number format	Ctrl + Shift + ~
Turn numbers into dollars	Ctrl + Shift + $
Make numbers a percentage	Ctrl + Shift + %
Apply a border	Ctrl + Shift + &

Expediting Internet Explorer

To...	Use this shortcut
Add sites to your Favorites	Go to the site. Hit Ctrl + D to add to your Favorites. Select Favorites and then Add to Favorites to create a separate folder for the site or to add it to a list already formed.
Select a home page	Go to the Web page that you would like to make your home page. Open the Tools menu and select Internet Options. Under Home page, click Use Current.
Use the History function if you visit a few select sites constantly	Select the History button on your top navigation (a green arrow on a clock face). Select the site that you would like and double-click. If the History button is not visible, go to the View menu, select Explorer Bar, and then click History to access.
Customize your toolbar to the tools you use most frequently	Right-click your top navigation. Select the icons that you use or go to the View menu, select Toolbars, and then click Customize.

A final piece of advice from Brown: Have the Help Line numbers for all the products you use nearby. "At work you rely on your IT person to solve problems that come up, but at home you need to fix these on your own and those phone numbers become extremely useful," she says.

The more you use these tools, the more time you will save. Have fun and explore the options available to you.

Put your PC maintenance routine on autopilot

Most people do one of the following when their computer begins to slow down (besides get angry). They either:

1. Improve their computer by buying more memory.

2. Decide to tweak their computer's settings.

3. Figure that their computer is old, there's nothing else they can do, and that it's probably time to buy a new computer.

All these solutions will boost a computer's performance. However, what's to keep your newly blazing PC from slowing down again after a couple months or years? A badly fragmented hard drive will bring even a top-of-the-line new computer to a grinding halt.

One easy option is to try Windows Live OneCare, a new PC care service that helps protect and keep your computer running. OneCare is always on, running in the background. It helps gives you round-the-clock protection and maintenance—virus scanning, firewalls, tune ups, file backups, the whole nine yards. If OneCare detects anything that you can do to improve the health of your computer, the service will automatically show you what action to take and give you a one-click solution. Learn 5 reasons to use OneCare to help protect your computer.

A second option is to create a preventive maintenance plan. One that's easy to set up and set in motion so you never have to think about it again.

The following sections provide information on how to automate a maintenance schedule to keep your PC running smooth. These examples use Microsoft Windows XP. Some of the screens may differ from version to version, but overall you'll find these tasks work for Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows 2000, and Windows Vista.

Create a preventive maintenance plan for your computer

When people notice their computer's performance slowing, the most common reason is the hard disk. Your computer's hard disk is a non-removable area that holds all the information available from your computer. Over time, hard disks begin to lose their ability to store data efficiently.

The Windows operating system provides three great tools to help keep your hard drive humming smoothly. These tools are Disk Cleanup, Disk Defragmenter, and Check Disk. Find more information about using these tools to optimize your PC.

Ideally, you should run these tools on the following schedule.

Preventive Maintenance Activity	Recommended Frequency
Clean up the hard disk of temporary files	Weekly
Rearrange (defragment) the hard disk	Monthly
Check the hard disk for errors	Weekly

Of course, who has the time (or the desire) to keep up with this schedule? The best solution is to let Windows do all of the work.

The Windows Scheduler Task Wizard allows you to set up and automate these tasks, so you never have to worry about them again.

Clean up your hard disk (weekly)

Your computer amasses temporary files over time. These files can come from any number of sources—the Web being one of the largest offenders. After a while, these temporary files will slow down your computer.

About every week, you should run the Windows Disk Cleanup utility to clear your PC of these temporary files.

To set up Disk Cleanup to run automatically:

1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel.

2. In Control Panel, double-click Scheduled Tasks.

3. Double-click Add Scheduled Task. The Scheduled Task Wizard appears, as shown in Figure 1. Click Next.

   

   Figure 1: Accessing the Scheduled Task Wizard.

4. You'll find a list of applications within the Scheduled Task Wizard. Scroll down this list until you find Disk Cleanup. Click on Disk Wizard to highlight it, as shown in Figure 2. Click Next.

   

   Figure 2: Selecting Disk Cleanup from the Scheduled Task Wizard.

5. Select a frequency for the Disk Cleanup to run. Running this task weekly is suggested, as shown in Figure 3. Click Next.

   

   Figure 3: Setting the frequency of Disk Cleanup.

6. Select the best day and time of the week for the Disk Cleanup to run. Pick a time when you know you won't be using your computer, as shown in Figure 4. Click Next.

   

   Figure 4: Picking a day and time for Disk Cleanup to run.

7. Enter your user name and password (the one you use when you need to log on to your computer). Click Next.

   

   Figure 5: Associating a user with the Disk Cleanup scheduled task.

   Congratulations! You've successfully scheduled your Disk Cleanup to run, as confirmed by the page shown in Figure 6. Your PC will now automatically run Disk Cleanup on the date and time you scheduled—even if you're logged off your computer.

   Click Finish to have Windows automate this task.

   

9. Figure 6: Successfully scheduling Windows to run Disk Cleanup.

Rearrange your fragmented files (monthly)

Whenever a file becomes too large to store in a single location on your hard disk, your computer breaks that file into parts (or fragments). Don't worry, though. Your computer keeps track of all these fragments, piecing them together whenever the file is accessed.

However, as fragmented files accumulate on your hard disk, your computer becomes gradually slower. This is because your computer has to go through all these fragmented files in order to piece the correct parts together again.

While there's nothing you can do to prevent the fragmentation of files, Windows does have a utility (Disk Fragmenter) to help deal with this situation. Disk Fragmenter rearranges fragmented files, resulting in increased free space on your hard disk and quicker performance from your PC.

About every month, you should run the Windows Disk Defragmenter utility.

To set up Disk Defragmenter to run automatically:

1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel.

2. In Control Panel, double-click Scheduled Tasks.

3. Double-click Add Scheduled Task. The Scheduled Task Wizard appears. Click Next.

4. Disk Fragmenter isn't available within the scroll-down list. You'll need to select it manually. Click Browse. Then, navigate to windows\system32\defrag.exe. Select defrag.exe and click Open, as shown in Figure 7.

   

   Figure 7: Navigating to defrag.exe.

5. The Scheduled Task Wizard asks you to define the frequency for defrag.exe to run. Monthly is suggested. Click Next.

6. You're then asked to select the time and day you wish this task to start. Pick a time you won't likely be using your computer.

   If you selected a Monthly time frame, you're able to define what months and what day of the month this task should run. Keep all months selected, and pick a day of the month that works for you, as shown in Figure 8.

7. Select a start time that differs from your other scheduled tasks. That way, you won't have multiple tasks starting at exactly the same time. Click Next.

   

   Figure 8: Picking a time frame for Disk Defragmenter to run.

8. Enter your user name and password (the one you use when you need to log on to your computer). Click Next.

9. The next dialog box in the wizard states that you've successfully scheduled Disk Fragmenter to run on the time frame you've defined. Click Finish to have Windows automate this task.

Check your hard disk for errors (weekly)

Whenever some program you're using crashes, your computer may create errors on your hard disk. These errors will eventually slow your computer to a crawl.

The good news is that Windows includes a Check Disk program. Check Disk corrects these types of errors from your hard disk—resulting in better PC performance.

About every week, you should run the Check Disk utility.

To set up Check Disk to run automatically:

1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel.

2. In Control Panel, double-click Scheduled Tasks.

3. Double-click Add Scheduled Task. The Scheduled Task Wizard appears. Click Next.

4. Check Disk isn't available within the scroll-down list. You'll need to select it manually. Click Browse. Then, navigate to windows\system32\chkdsk.exe. Select chkdsk.exe and click Open, as shown in Figure 9.

   

   Figure 9: Navigating to chkdsk.exe.

5. The Scheduled Task Wizard prompts you to define the frequency for chkdsk.exe to run. Select Weekly and click Next.

6. You're then asked to select the time and day you wish this task to start. Select a time you won't likely be using your computer. Make sure this start time differs from your other scheduled tasks. Avoid having your tasks start at the same time.

7. Enter your user name and password (the one you use when you need to log on to your computer). Disk Fragmenter will run as if you started it. Click Next.

8. A wizard page appears, stating that you've successfully scheduled Check Disk to run on the time frame you've defined. Click Finish to have Windows automate this task.

Let Windows do all the work
These automated tasks—while they seem simple enough—are the foundation on which your computer's performance rests. Lucky for us, Windows can completely handle these tasks. You never have to worry about them. You just set up your maintenance tasks once, automate them, and let Windows take care of the rest.

Optimize your computer for peak performance

Our personal computers are like fine automobiles—they need preventive maintenance to run efficiently and avoid major breakdowns.

The following tips can help improve your computer's performance. These examples use Microsoft Windows XP. Some of the screens may differ from version to version, but overall you'll find these tips work for all versions of Windows, including Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista.

By the way, in no way can you blow up your computer or files with any of these procedures. These tasks use utilities provided within the Windows operating systems to aid you in achieving the best system performance. This article does not address tinkering with the registry files.

Clean up disk errors

Run once a week

Whenever a program crashes, or you experience some power outage, your computer may create errors on your computer's hard disk. Over time, the errors can slow your computer. Luckily, the Windows operating system includes a Disk Check program to check and clean any errors on your computer and keep it running smoothly.

To run Disk Check:

1. In your Start menu, click My Computer.

2. In the My Computer dialog box, right-click on the drive you wish to check for errors (for most of us this will be the C: drive, unless you have multiple drives on your computer), and click Properties.

3. In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab. In the Error-Checking section, press the Check Now… button. A Check Disk dialog box displays, as shown below.

   

   Access Check Disk to check for errors on your computer.

4. In the Check Disk dialog box, check all the check boxes. Click Start.

5. You will see a message box that says you can schedule the disk check to start the next time you restart your computer. Click Yes. The next time you restart your computer, it will automatically run through a disk check before displaying your login screen. After the disk check finishes, Windows will automatically bring you to your login screen.

   Note: Check Disk can take more than an hour to check and clean errors on your computer.

Remove temporary files

Run once a week

Your computer can pick up and store temporary files when you're looking at Web pages and even when you're working on files in programs, such as Microsoft Word. Over time, these files will slow your computer's performance. You can use the Windows Disk Cleanup screen to rid your computer of these deadbeat files.

To run Disk Cleanup:

1. In your Start menu, click My Computer.

2. In the My Computer dialog box, right-click on the drive you wish to check for errors (for most of us this will be the C: drive, unless you have multiple drives on your computer), and click Properties.

3. In the Properties dialog box, click Disk Cleanup.

   

   Use Disk Cleanup to help clear unused files from your computer.

4. Disk Cleanup will calculate how much space you can free up on your hard drive. After its scan, the Disk Cleanup dialog box reports a list of files you can remove from your computer, as pictured below. This scan can take a while depending on how many files you have lying around on your computer.

   

   View results from the Disk Cleanup dialog box.

5. After the scan is complete, in the Disk Cleanup dialog box, click View Files to see what Disk Cleanup will throw out once you give it the go ahead. You can check and uncheck boxes to define what you wish to keep or discard. When you're ready, click OK.

6. You can also select the More Options tab within the Disk Cleanup screen to look for software programs you don't use much anymore. You then have the choice to remove these unused programs.

Rearrange your data

Run once a month

Don't be shocked, but your computer can get sloppy. Your computer often breaks files side by side to increase the speed of access and retrieval. However, as files are updated, your computer saves these updates on the largest space available on the hard drive, often found far away from the other adjacent sectors of the file.

The result: a fragmented file. Fragmented files cause slower performance. This is because your computer must now search for all of the file's parts. In other words, your computer knows where all the pieces are, but putting them back together, and in the correct order when you need them, can slow your computer down.

Windows includes a Disk Defragmenter program to piece all your files back together again (if only Humpty-Dumpty had been so lucky) and make them quicker to open.

To run the Disk Defragmenter:

1. In your Start menu, click My Computer.

2. In the My Computer dialog box, right-click on the drive you wish to check for errors (for most of us this will be the C: drive, unless you have multiple drives on your computer), and click Properties.

3. In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab, and then in the Defragmentation section, click Defragment Now….

4. In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, select the Volume (most likely your Local Disk C:) at the top of the screen, and then click Analyze.

5. After analyzing your computer, the Disk Defragmenter displays a message stating whether you should defragment your computer. Press Defragment to clean up your computer if necessary. The Disk Defragmenter will reorganize files by placing together and organizing them by program and size, as shown in Figure 5.

   

7. Files being reorganizing with the Disk Defragmenter.

Make Internet Explorer run faster

The Web is a sparkling achievement of modern society. It's everywhere—from the home to the classroom. We use it to communicate, to work, to play—even to waste time when there's nothing else to do.

Yet there's nothing more frustrating than having this technical marvel at our fingertips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, only to watch our computers access the Internet at a crawling pace. Thankfully, Microsoft Internet Explorer provides some useful options for quicker Web surfing. Let's look at these options now.

Reduce the size of your Web page history

Internet Explorer stores visited Web pages to your computer, organizing them within a page history by day. While it's useful to keep a couple days of Web history within your computer, there's no need to store more than a week's worth. Any more than that and you're collecting Web pages that will slow down your computer's performance.

To reduce your Web page history:

1. In Internet Explorer, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options.

2. In the Internet Options dialog box, in the History section, find the Days to keep pages in history: box. Type "1" in this box, as pictured in the image below. Click OK.

   

   Reduce the number of days to keep pages in history.

Don't save encrypted Web pages

Encrypted Web pages ask for usernames and passwords. These pages scramble information to prevent the reading of this sensitive information. You can define Internet Explorer to not save these types of pages. You'll free up space by saving fewer files to your computer, as well as keeping secure information off your computer.

To not save encrypted Web pages:

1. In Internet Explorer, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options.

2. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab.

3. In the Settings section, scroll down to the Security section. Check the "Do not save encrypted pages to disk" option, as shown in the figure below. Click OK.

   

   Set up Internet Explorer so that you do not save encrypted Web pages.

Automate Microsoft Update

Configure once

Microsoft works constantly to release updates to Windows and other Microsoft products, including Office. At Microsoft Update, you can find and install all these updates?not just the critical ones. Often, these updates will improve your computer's performance.

You can make life easier by automating Microsoft Update so your computer downloads and installs all the updates without you having to worry about them.

To automate Microsoft Update:

1. In your Start menu, click Control Panel.

2. In the Automatic Updates dialog box, check the Automatic (Recommended) check box. You can define the time of day when your computer checks for updates. If the computer finds any updates, it will download and install them automatically for you.

3. Click OK.

   

   Automate Microsoft Update to keep your computer up to date.

Install antivirus and antispyware programs

Computer viruses and spyware (hidden software that gathers information about you without your knowledge or consent when you're using a computer) both reduce system performance. Computer viruses can not only reduce performance, but they can also destroy data. Any computer that accesses the Internet should have antivirus and antispyware programs installed.

• Antivirus programs: Two of the most reliable computer virus programs around are Norton Internet Security and McAfee Internet Security Suite. Find additional antivirus programs at Microsoft Store.

• Antispyware programs: For a great antispyware program, check out Windows Defender.

Smooth running

Follow these steps and you'll have your computer purring like a vintage Porsche (or whatever your dream car of choice is). And the best part?maintaining your computer is a lot less messy than an automobile. You don't even have to roll up your sleeves.