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So this is the last quick tip of 2008 and maybe ever! We won’t be doing our weekly quick tips in 2009…instead we will be working on longer and bigger tutorial series and product reviews. If there is something you want to see then let us know!

So…5 of our fav tips from 2008

1. Wireless Network Planning – http://followthis.info/Kf7fLL1
2. Windows DVD Maker – http://followthis.info/cJeac9J
3. Saving as PDF in Office 2007 – http://followthis.info/jjdDAcK
4. Resize Multiple Images Quickly – http://followthis.info/KHA743c
5. Stopping Spam – http://followthis.info/L6BGa2g

They’re the ones we like but they are all great So you can access them all here: http://followthis.info/ge8Eaga

Heard this from your IT Support before?

Wondering why it takes so long for IT Support to answer the phone?

I have found a few clients recently having a problem with AVG updating and it says “Invalid Update Control CTF file.”

This should be fixed with the latest version of AVG reinstalled over the top, but if you don’t want to do that we stumbled across a little tool that does the job nicely, AVGMechanic and can be downloaded from StrategyOnline.

We can’t support the use of this tool, so if you are concerned about using it please contact your local IT support but we have found it works nicely. All it does is removes the AVG CTF files that are causing the problems and then you will be able to update.

This weeks quick tip is the last of the Shortcut Series.  Today’s topic is Winkey Shortcuts.  For those of you that don’t know the Winkey is the Windows Key on the keyboard.  Usually the key is second in from the bottom left of your keyboard.

Winkey Shortcuts:

WINKEY + D – Bring desktop to the top of other windows
WINKEY + M – Minimize all windows
WINKEY + Shift + M – Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D
WINKEY + E – Open Microsoft Explorer
WINKEY + Tab – Cycle through open programs on task bar
WINKEY + F – Display the Windows Search/Find feature
WINKEY + Ctrl + F – Display the search for computers window
WINKEY + F1 – Display the Microsoft Windows help
WINKEY + R – Open the run window
WINKEY + Pause/Break – Open the system properties
WINKEY + U – Open utility manager
WINKEY + L – Lock the computer (Windows XP & Later)

Have you found the Shortcut Series helpful?  Are there any other shortcuts that you’d like us to do a quick tip on?  If so, give us a comment and we’ll try our best!

Disclaimer: pctoolbox.co.uk cannot be held responsible for any problems that are caused from using the shortcuts.  All shortcuts work to the best of our knowledge.

Today’s quick tip is the penultimate of the Shortcut Series.  Our category this week is Microsoft Outlook Shortcut Keys.  We think that it is worthwhile remembering a few of these shortcuts because they are bound to come in useful!  Please Note: Some shortcuts may not work in Outlook 2007.

Microsoft Outlook Shortcut Keys:

Alt + S – Send the email
Ctrl + C – Copy selected text
Ctrl + X – Cut selected text
Ctrl + P – Open print dialog box
Ctrl + K – Complete name/email typed in address bar
Ctrl + B – Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + I – Italicize highlighted selection
Ctrl + U – Underline highlighted selection
Ctrl + R – Reply to an email
Ctrl + F – Forward an email
Ctrl + N – Create a new email
Ctrl + Shift + A – Create a new appointment to your calendar
Ctrl + Shift + O – Open the Outbox
Ctrl + Shift + I – Open the Inbox
Ctrl + Shift + K – Add a new task
Ctrl + Shift + C – Create a new contact

Next week is the last of the Quick Tip Shortcut Series.  The Shortcut topic will be Winkey Shortcuts

Disclaimer: pctoolbox.co.uk cannot be held responsible for any problems that are caused from using the shortcuts.  All shortcuts work to the best of our knowledge.

Week four of the Quick Tip Shortcut Series.  This week we have Excel Shortcut Keys.  We think that it is worthwhile remembering a few of these shortcuts because they are bound to come in useful!  Please Note: Some shortcuts may not work in Excel 2007.

Microsoft Excel Shortcut Keys:

F2 – Edit the selected cell
F5 – Go to a specific cell
F7 – Spell check selected text and/or document
F11 – Create Chart
Ctrl + Shift + ; – Enter current time
Ctrl + ; – Enter current date
Alt + Shift + F1 – Insert new worksheet
Shift + F3 – Open the Excel formula window
Shift + F5 – Bring up search box
Ctrl + A – Select all contents of worksheet
Ctrl + B – Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + I – Italicize highlighted selection
Ctrl + C – Copy selected text
Ctrl + V – Paste
Ctrl + D – Fill
Ctrl + K – Insert Link
Ctrl + F – Open find and replace options
Ctrl + U – Underline highlighted selection
Ctrl + Y – Underline selected text
Ctrl + O – Open options
Ctrl + N – Open new document
Ctrl + P – Open print dialog box
Ctrl + S – Save
Ctrl + Z – Undo last action
Ctrl + F9 – Minimize current window
Ctrl + F10 – Maximize currently selected window
Ctrl + F6 – Switch between open workbooks/windows
Ctrl + Page Up + Page Down – Move between excel worksheets in the same document
Ctrl + ‘ – Insert value of above cell into current cell
Ctrl + Space – Select entire column
Shift + Space – Select entire row
Ctrl + W – Close Document

Next week our topic is Microsoft Outlook Shortcut Keys!

Disclaimer: pctoolbox.co.uk cannot be held responsible for any problems that are caused from using the shortcuts.  All shortcuts work to the best of our knowledge.

Continuing the Quick Tip Shortcut Series, this week we have tips for Microsoft Windows.  We think that it is worthwhile remembering a few of these shortcuts because they are bound to come in useful!

Microsoft Windows Shortcut Keys:

Alt + Tab – Switch between applications
Alt + Shift + Tab – Switch backwards between open applications
Alt + Print Screen – Create a screen shot of the current program
F2 – Rename selected icon
F3 – Start find from desktop
F5 – Refresh contents
Alt + F4 – Close current open program
Ctrl + F4 – Close Window in Program
Ctrl + Plus Key – Automatically adjusts the width of selected icon or program
Alt + Enter – Open properties window of selected icon or program
Shift + F10 – Simulate right-click on selected item
Shift + Del – Delete programs/files permanently
Holding Shift During Bootup – Boot safe mode or bypass system files

Next week is week 3 and Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys.

Disclaimer: pctoolbox.co.uk cannot be held responsible for any problems that are caused from using the shortcuts.  All shortcuts work to the best of our knowledge.

You may find that your AVG Anti-Spam isn’t catching some of your SPAM Emails.  If this is the case you will need to train AVG.  You may have to do this a few times but AVG catches on pretty quick!

1. First of all open up your email program e.g. Microsoft Office 2007 (Although we are using Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 for the example, the process is very similar in most email software.)  Now you must create a new folder.
   
2. Give the New Folder a name.  We suggest ‘TRAIN_SPAM’.  Then Click OK.
   
3. Drag into this new folder any Spam emails that AVG has missed.
4. Once you’ve put any missed spam in the folder you need to open up AVG.  Select ‘Tools’ and then ‘Advanced Settings’.
   
5. Click ‘Anti-Spam’, Settings and then ‘Train Anti-Spam’.  (Click on image to make bigger).
   
6. Select your Email Software from the list.  (Click on image to make bigger)
   
7. Now you will be asked for your profile name.  For most people there will be only one option because you will only have one profile.  But for those who have more make sure you select the right one, i.e. the one you will to train with.  You can make your selection via the drop down list.  Then Click OK.
   
8. Find the folder which you wish to train.  Then click ‘Next’.  (Click on image to make bigger)
   
9. Select All Messages (No Filtering) then Next.  (Click on image to make bigger)
   
10. Click Next.
11. Once the process is complete click ‘Finish’ and then ‘OK’.
12. Go back into Outlook or your email program and delete anything that was in the TRAIN_SPAM folder.

From now on the files like those that were in the TRAIN_SPAM folder should be sent automatically to your junk email folder. Sometimes they need to be trained a few times as there are variants of Spam so just repeat the steps above. Give it a go and let us know if you have any suggestions!

Keeping track of your home accounts can be a bit of a pain, and no one really wants to spend their hard earned cash on software to help them keep track. Microsoft have recently released an accounting package called “Office Accounting 2008″ and as with all Microsoft stuff there are different versions! But the bottom of the range edition is free and is perfect for personal accounting and in some cases for small business accounting.

The free version of the software allows you to:

• Link the software with your online bank account
• Create estimates & invoices
• Track Customer Payments
• Create Quotes, Invoices and email them as PDF’s
• Share your Data with Outlook
• Track Expenses and Pay Bills
• And More…

Take a look at the website for more information: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/accountingexpress/

For me, buying online is like second nature, in fact I probably spend more online these days that I do in the high-street. It is just more convenient as well as the fact that online prices are usually cheaper. But what about squeezing out a little bit more?

Many people will be familiar with store reward schemes, Tesco Clubcard for example, but the one I want to recommend today is Nectar. Nectar is often thought of as the Sainsburys “clubcard”. But you can collect points at so many more stores, BP for example. But the best bit is that you can collect points online from hundreds if not thousands of retailers including Amazon.co.uk, Play.com, ebookers.com and Dell.co.uk. Which makes collecting points even easier! Nectar.com is the place to start for a full list of those retailers taking part!

If you shop online then this is certainly something to consider, I saved a lot of money in Argos the other day spending nectar points. I bought a plane ticket the other day from ebookers and for every pound the plane ticket cost I got 2 nectar points! That is a common thing 2 points per pound, but there are often offers on. For example, earlier this week I got an offer from Dell of triple points, so that is 6 points per pound, not bad when I just spent over £1000 with Dell!

Some people think it is a bit sad collecting points like this, but for very little effort you can collect something that is going to save you money on something in the future! I saved around £70 in Argos, admittedly I had around 16000 points but as I have just shown you, if you take advantage of the offers then you can save those points pretty quick!

Give it a go, nectar.com also lists the places you can spend your points, both online and on the high-street.