Technical Tips 

This page offers some technical tips about:

• Keeping your computer healthy;
• Internet Safety;
• Battery Life;
• Buying cheap cartridges;
• Net Nanny Guidelines;
• Upside Down Screens on Laptops... a quick fix;
• Telephone Numbers for getting help to fix an issue regarding your computer, or your internet connection.

Healthy Computer

Keep your computer clean and fit by staying in control of what you put into your computer, and how you want it to behave. Follow these tips: 

• When you start up your computer, does it take a long time before you are finally able to starting using it (opening programs and applications)?

• Lots of times when you (or your children) download new programs to the computer, the installation process assumes that you want the program to turn on when you start up the computer. If you have alot of programs (iTunes and other music download sites, games, etc.). It is good practice to go into each application's preferences, and uncheck the "start up when computer starts up" option. You'll notice a big difference in speed. Well worth the extra few seconds it will take to go into the Start / Programs / menus to select the program you want to run.
  

• Put your computer on a diet! Help it get rid of unnecessary files....

• If you haven't emptied your recycle bin lately, you may be surprised to notice how much stuff is in there! To empty it, click once on the recycle bin, then right click and select "empty."  Ah, that feels better!
  

• There are a tremendous amount of files that live in your computer that you don't want and won't ever look at. These files are called "temporary files."  When you are using an Internet Browser, like Internet Explorer for example, you can delete temporary files by doing the following:
1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Select Tools, and then Options
3. Click on the button that lets you delete Temporary Files
4. If you haven't done this, or it's been a while since the last time, it may take a long time for all temporary files to be deleted. The hour glass will tell you it's working on the operation. When you no longer see the hour glass, then it's all done. 

Internet Safety

• Be in control of what pops up on your computer, when you surf the internet.  Net Nanny will allow you to block pop-ups. See below for more information on Net Nanny.
  
• You can select what kind of filters you wish to use on various programs including Internet Explorer (see Tools in the top bar of your internet browser, then select Options), Google (click on Preferences on the Google Home Page) and Net Nanny (select preferences ).
  
• The  Sheffield Council published a booklet on Internet Safety, click here to download one.
• EasyNet also published a booklet on Internet Safety, click here to take a look at it.
• You can also have a look at some other websites that deal with Internet safety, click here to access them. 
   

Laptop Battery

This information is to help maintain the life of the battery in your laptop. Basically it is just like looking after your mobile phone. The constant charging and running down of batteries in a laptop, over time, will wear them down.

Most computer companies recommend you buy a new laptop battery every year but this may not be needed if you follow these guidelines:

• Keep your laptop battery as cool as possible. Overheating causes the battery to weaken and will affect its performance. Lifting the back of the laptop and allowing it to rest on a thin book, for example, allows for more air flow underneath the laptop, which keeps it cooler.
• Run down your battery fully before recharging, then give it a full recharge before using it on the battery again. Otherwise, your battery will get used to a smaller charge cycle and it will not last for as long. The battery recharges when you plug the laptop into the mains.  If you can, it is easier to do this when you have two batteries. You can use one until it is empty, and switch it to the spare battery. When you plug into the mains, make sure the empty battery is in the laptop so it will recharge. 
• It is important not to run the laptop on mains power all the time. If you do, the battery is not being used and this will reduce its effectiveness.
• If you are not using your laptop for several days do not leave it with the battery run down. Make sure it has some battery power before leaving it unused.

By following these guidelines we hope the battery in your laptop will last longer.

Where can I buy cheap ink cartridges?

You can access a document listing sources to buy cartridges on the links page, or click here to download.

 

Net Nanny Guidelines

FamilyNet have purchased and installed on all the computers a program called Net Nanny, which allows you to filter what can be viewed on the Internet, for instance if you want to protect your children against some unsuitable information out there on the Internet.

Here are a few guidelines and helpful tips about Net Nanny to help you use the program better:

Deactivating and Activating Net Nanny

Net Nanny has been automatically set default settings; this means that it will have a set level of filtering on. Sometimes it will block websites you know to be safe and you will want to deactivate Net Nanny temporarily to allow you to view this website.  Click here to view and download an information sheet on using Net Nanny.

Upside Down Screen

If your screen gets turned the wrong way round there is a simple fix:

If you press and hold the Ctrl and Alt keys down then press the Up arrow this should solve the problem.

Customer Helplines    

• For hardware issues (concerning your computer tower, monitor, or laptop)  Viglen are the company who have supplied the computers for the project. The help line is open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, but not at weekends or public holidays. The number for this line is 01727 201795.
• Problems with your UK Online (EasyNet) Broadband Their line is open 24 hours a day. The Broadband specific number to do with  Technical support, Order status, Billing, & Sales options is 0800 0533223.
• They may ask you three questions as "memorable information:"
• First question will be the primary school that enrolled you into FamilyNet
• The second question, "Favorite TV Show" will need the answer of "The Apprentice"
• The answer to the third and final question is "Viglen"
• Problems with Telewest Broadband, or any Service Provider you've contracted with personally: you should already have a help line number which to call.

Credits for image: UVic Humanities Computing and Media Centre and Half-Baked Software