ianbrown.cc - Computer Tech

How to Permanently Delete a Contact in Address Book After You’ve Deleted It – Mac

ianbrowncc — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:46:22 +0000

Even after you delete a contact in your Mac’s Address Book, it still may appear. How do you get rid of it entirely?

Here’s how:

Open Apple’s Mail program
Go to the Window menu at the top of your screen and select Previous Recipients
Select the name(s) you want to delete in the window that pops up and hit the “Remove From List” button
Done!

Losing space on your C drive? Try uninstalling Windows Desktop Search.

ianbrowncc — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:13:39 +0000

I was losing space on the c drive of my laptop, and found that over 2 gigs was being taken up by Windows Desktop Search, and as far as I know, it keeps accumulating over time, as it keeps indexing. No other program needs Windows Desktop Search to run, so there are no worries about uninstalling it.

I removed it and got back over 2.7GB of space!

To remove it, do this (in Windows XP):

1. START>CONTROL PANEL>ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS
2. Make sure you check the box at the top of the window for “Show Updates”
3. Find Windows Desktop Search, click on it, then click the “Remove” button (remove the most recent updates to this program first if there is more than one instance of this program listed; I only had one instance listed)
4. It may bring up a box listing all of the programs that were installed after Windows Desktop Search. Click Ignore. No programs are dependent on Windows Desktop Search to run.
5. It will ask to restart.
6. Done!

If you do not see it listed in your Add/Remove Programs list, go here:

Uninstalling Windows Desktop Search

How to Activate Windows File Sharing in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

ianbrowncc — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:17:05 +0000

Not sure why Apple did this. It’s still easy, but a little more hidden.

Simply do this:

Go to your Apple Menu in the upper left corner of your screen
Select System Preferences
Click on Sharing
Select “File Sharing” (make sure there is a check mark next to it)
Click on the “Options” button on the right side of the window
Check the box that says “Shares files and folders using SMB”
Click “Done”
Close the System Preferences window and you’re done!

Want to change the name the home page on your WordPress blog?

ianbrowncc — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:20:04 +0000

Here’s how:

You need to open your header.php file of the theme you are using. Log into your Administrator section (wp-admin). Go to DESIGN > THEME EDITOR (or PRESENTATION > THEME EDITOR in older versions of WordPress). On the RIGHT-HAND side where it says “[Your Theme's Name] theme files”, find header.php or just Header and open it (click on it).

Find this line:

Home

Only change the word Home to the right of “title=” and in between the brackets after that (e.g. >Home>). Change those to Blog, or to whatever you want.

If you can’t save the change in Theme Editor, then either follow the link to The Codex beneath the window in which you are editing the file, or log into your server via FTP and change the header.php file in the folder of your current theme, which will be located in /public_html/wp-content/themes/yourcurrenttheme (“yourcurrenttheme” being the name of the theme you are currently using) if your WordPress install is in your root directory.

Can’t merge cells in Excel 2008? (Mac)

ianbrowncc — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:59:38 +0000

Having problems merging cells in Excel 2008?

There are at least two solutions to this:

1. Use the SHIFT key, NOT the Command key, to select the cells you want to merge. Don’t ask me why that is. It just is.
2. Make sure the Workbook is NOT set to be shared. TOOLS>SHARE WORKBOOK>Uncheck the box that says “Allow changes by more than one user at the same time”

NOTE
The merge/unmerge cells button has become a checkbox in Excel 2008. Just click on the Toolbox icon in the top portion of Excel, and click on the triangle next to “Alignment and Spacing.” At the bottom of that section, under “Indentation and Merge,” you will see a checkbox that you need to check/uncheck, depending on whether you want to merge/unmerge. If it is grayed out, then you need to make sure that when you are selecting the cells that you want to merge/unmerge, that you are holding down the SHIFT key, and NOT the Command key

How to configure a Mac for a dialup connection – Leopard and Tiger

ianbrowncc — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:04:45 +0000

In case you visit very rural areas or your beach house where there is no broadband Internet connection, here is how to configure your Mac for a dialup connection:

How To Set Up a Dialup Connection in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

How To Set Up a Dialup Connection in Mac OS X 10.3 Panther – 10.4 Tiger

Keep in mind that none of Mac’s current notebooks (the Macbook, Macbook Air, or Macbook Pro) come with a 56K modem. You’ll need to get a USB modem from the Apple Store:

Apple USB Modem

Did you just upgrade to Mac OS X Leopard and now your new mail sound notification for the Mac Mail app doesn’t work?

ianbrowncc — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:57:05 +0000

Here’s the fix:

Fix for Leopard Mail™’s broken new mail alert

How To Burn DMG and/or ISO Files With Your Mac

ianbrowncc — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:31:50 +0000

Want to burn a DMG file with your Mac?

Just do the following:

Launch Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility)

Insert your blank DVD or CD

Drag and drop your .dmg or .iso file to the left pane in Disk Utility. Now both the blank disk and the .iso/.dmg file should be listed there

Select the .iso/.dmg file you want to burn to disc by clicking on it once, and then click on the Burn button (yellow and black circle in upper left of program window)

A dialog box confirming the destination (your blank CD/DVD) will appear

Click OK

It will burn it and let you know when it’s done!

Here is a cool FREE software program for screenwriting (PC and Mac)

ianbrowncc — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:39:19 +0000

My sister just told me about a cool free software for writing screenplays. It’s like Final Draft, except it’s free. There is both a Mac and PC version.

Get it here.

10% Of All Proceeds This Weekend Goes To Young Entrepreneurs!

ianbrowncc — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:03:27 +0000

Fri 6.6.08 – Tues 6.10.08

Young entrepreneurs are close to my heart, as I used to be one (I still am, actually! ). So, I have chosen to support the National Foundation of Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), as they do a great job of teaching kids from low income communities how to start, run, fund, and market their own business. This knowledge is invaluable to kids, as it keeps them off the streets and gives them a purpose in life, which we all need.

So, this weekend, through Tuesday, I am donating 10% of all proceeds to NFTE. Be a part of supporting our young entrepreneurs, as they are the future lifeblood of our country, by having your computer needs met. It’s for a great cause!