computerspirit: Apple Macintosh shortcut keys

computerspirit: Apple Macintosh shortcut keys: Note that not all of the below shortcut keys will work in all versions of Mac OS. Note: You may be able to use the Command key in pl...

Windows Key

Alternatively referred to as the winkey or WK, the Windows key is found on the keyboards of IBM compatible computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system. The Windows key (shown right) has the Microsoft flag logo on it and is located between the CTRL and ALT on the keyboard. Using the Windows key in combination with another key allows the user to perform common tasks more quickly. For example, pressing the Windows key + E opens Windows Explorer. For a full list of Windows key shortcuts, see the Windows shortcut keys page.

Tip: Users who are familiar with Macs can relate this key to the Apple command key.

Apple Macintosh shortcut keys

Note that not all of the below shortcut keys will work in all versions of Mac OS.

Note: You may be able to use the Command key in place of the "Open Apple" key in the shortcuts below for later versions of Mac OS.

Open Apple + Down	Opens the selected icon.
Shift + Click	Select the icon and add it to the set of those selected.
Tab	Highlight the next icon inside the folder, in alphabetical order.
Shift + Tab	Highlight the previous icon inside the folder, in alphabetical order.
Left arrow	Used when viewing by icon to select the icon to the left of the one highlighted.
Right arrow	Used when viewing by icon to select icon to the right of the one highlighted.
Up arrow	Used to select the icon above the one currently highlighted.
Down arrow	Used to select the icon below the one currently highlighted.
Open Apple + ?	Mac help
Open Apple + E	Eject
Open Apple + Shift + Up Arrow	Used to direct the input focus to the desktop level.
Open Apple + M	Minimize window
Open Apple + N	New finder window
Open Apple + Shift + N	New folder
Open Apple + W	Close the current window.
Open Apple + C	Copy the selected item to the clipboard.
Open Apple + X	Cut the selected item.
Open Apple + V	Paste item from the clipboard
Open Apple + L	Make alias
Open Apple + R	Show original item
Open Apple + T	Add to favorites
Open Apple + O	Open the selected icon.
Open Apple + F	Display the find dialog box.
Open Apple + G	Repeat the last find operation.
Open Apple + Shift + G	Takes a snapshot of the screen and saves it to a PICT file.
Command + A	Select all text and objects
Command + B	Change selected text to boldface
Command + F	Open the Find window
Command + I	Italicize the selected text
Command + P	Open the Print dialog window
Command + U	Underline the selected text
Command + Shift + P	Open the Page Setup window, to change document parameters
Command + Shift + Control + 3	Capture screenshot of current screen and save to the Clipboard

Password protecting Microsoft Word and Excel documents

Tip: Before password protecting any document, you may want to create a backup of the non-password protected file in case you forget the password in the future.

Users who are creating a Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel document that they want to keep confidential or to only be viewed by people who should be viewing it may want to enable a Microsoft Word or Excel password on the file to help protect the contents of the file. Below are the steps required for creating a Microsoft Word or Excel document with a password.

1. Open Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel and the document you want to password protect.
2. Click File
3. Click Save As
4. In the Save As window, click the Tools option in the upper right-hand side of the window.
5. From the Tools drop-down menu, select General Options
6. This opens a Save window that allows you to specify a password used to open the file or modify the file.

Password to open - Entering a password for this option makes the file only readable to the users who know the password.

Password to modify - Entering a password for this option allows you to view the file but only edit and save the file if they know the password. Keep in mind, however, that a user could open the file, copy the contents of the file to another file, and modify and create their own document.

How do I password protect my files and folders in Windows?

Tip: Before password protecting any document, you may want to create a backup of the non-password protected files and folder in case you forget the password in the future.

The majority of Microsoft Windows operating systems do not come with a method of password protecting your sensitive files and folders. If you're using Microsoft Windows 3.x, Windows 95, or Windows 98, you need to download or purchase a third-party program to password protect your files and folders in Windows; skip down to the other security solutions section if you're using one of these operating systems.

Microsoft Windows XP professional users
Microsoft Windows XP home users
Microsoft Windows Vista/7/8 users
Other security solutions for protecting your files and folders in Windows
Things to remember when encrypting or password protecting files and folders

Microsoft Windows XP professional users

The steps below for encrypting the files on Windows XP Professional applies to users who are using a computer that has different accounts. If you are using a single account, see the other security solutions section.

1. Select the file or folder you want to encrypt.
2. Right-click the file or folder and click Properties.
3. Click the Advanced button.
4. Check "Encrypt contents to secure data" option.
5. Click Apply and then Ok.

Encrypt contents to secure data is grayed out

This will be grayed out if you're using the home edition of Microsoft Windows XP. See the steps below for securing the contents of your folders in Windows XP home.

Show "Encrypt" on the context menu

The newest version of TweakUI also enables you to show the Encrypt option in the context menu. To do this, follow the steps below.

1. Open TweakUI.
2. In the TweakUI window, select Explorer
3. In the right side of the window under Settings, locate Show 'Encrypt' on context menu and check the box. This option should be below Prefix 'shortcut to' on new shortcuts and above Show 'View workgroup computers' in NetPlaces.

• I'm missing Show "Encrypt" on the context menu in TweakUI.

Microsoft Windows XP home users

1. Select the file or folder you want to encrypt.
2. Right-click the file or folder and click Properties.
3. Click the Sharing tab.
4. Check the box Make this folder private
5. Click Apply and then Ok.

Make this folder private is grayed out

In order for this option to work in Microsoft Windows XP home you must meet the below requirements.

1. The hard drive must be formatted in NTFS and not FAT32 File System.
2. The folder you're attempting to encrypt must be in your own personal folder. For example, if your name is bob, you must be encrypting a folder that is or that is contained within the below folder:
   
   C:\Documents and Settings\Bob\
   
   You cannot encrypt any folders outside of this folder. If you want to encrypt outside this folder, see the below other security solutions.

Microsoft Windows Vista/7/8 users

Unfortunately, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 do not provide any features for password protecting files or folders. You need to use a third-party software program to accomplish this.

If you want to encrypt a file or folder, this can be done by following these steps:

1. Select the file or folder you want to encrypt.
2. Right-click the file or folder and click Properties.
3. Click the Advanced button.
4. Check "Encrypt contents to secure data" option.
5. Click Apply and then Ok.

Other security solutions for protecting your files and folders in Windows

File and folders not frequently used

If you need to password protect files or folders that you do not frequently use, one of the simplest ways is to compress the folder and files with a compression utility and password protect the compressed file. However, each time you want to work with or modify the files, you need to uncompress the files using the password.

Windows ME and Windows XP users - Windows ME and Windows XP come with their own compression utility. This utility can also be used to compress and password protect files.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users - Windows Vista and Windows 7 also include a compression utility. However, password protection for the compressed files is not possible without the use of a third-party software program.

Tip: When a file is compressed, users can still view a listing of the files in the compressed file. If you want both your file names and the contents to be hidden, move all the files into a single folder and password protect that folder.  

File and folders frequently used or accessed

If you need to password protect or encrypt data you frequently use, you need to install a third-party program that allows you to protect your files and folders. Below are some free and commercial solutions.

• 7-Zip - A free file and folder zipping utility, which also includes the ability to password protect zipped files and folders.
• AxCrypt - An excellent free encryption utility that enables users to encrypt all files within a folder and not allow those files to be viewed unless a passphrase (password) is known.
• Folder Guard - A commercial version of a password protection software that enables you to password protect files, folders, and other Windows resources.
• Protected Folder- For a small fee, it's an excellent software program that enables you to password protect folders.

Things to remember when encrypting or password protecting files and folders

1. There is no such thing as a 100% protected file. There are numerous tools, utilities, and instructions for how to break encryption and passwords on files. However, the protection methods listed above will protect your files from the majority of users who may encounter them. If you are working with really sensitive data, we suggest a commercial product for protecting your files and data.
2. Even though a file or folder may be password protected, it still can be deleted (unless the program supports the ability to protect files from being deleted). Always remember to backup all your files, even those protected by passwords.
3. If you forget the password, unless you're willing to spend the time attempting to break it or pay someone else to break the password, all the data in the file or folder will be lost. Thus, it is important to backup a copy of the non-password protected files or folders, just in case.

Microsoft DOS debug command

About debug

Debug is a method of looking at portions of your computer and writing assembly code to perform certain tasks on your computer.

MS-DOS 2.x - 4.x uses debug.com
MS-DOS 5.x and above uses debug.exe

Availability

The debug command is an external command and is available in the below Microsoft operating systems.

All Versions of MS-DOS
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows ME
Windows NT
Windows 2000
Windows XP

Syntax

DEBUG [[drive:][path]filename [testfile-parameters]]

[drive:][path]filename	Specifies the file you want to test.
testfile-parameters	Specifies command-line information required by the file you want to test.

After Debug starts, type ? to display a list of debugging commands.

To get out of Debug you need to "Q" and enter
To execute the Debug routine you need to do "G" and enter

Examples

debug       <press enter>
-D40:00    <TypeD40:00, and press enter>

Information about your computer ports is displayed.

-Q             <Type Q, and press enter>

How to find the BIOS Type, version, and date

View BIOS information at POST

The first way is by restarting your computer. When the initial load (also called POST) screen is displayed, the BIOS Type and version is also displayed. If the load screen is displayed for only a few seconds, you may be able to press the Pause/Break key on your keyboard to stop the computer at that screen, long enough for you to find the BIOS information.

The BIOS information is typically found at or near the top of the POST screen.

Also, you will see information on what hard drive(s) and CD/DVD drives are installed in your computer.

Tip: It is also at this screen where you could access the BIOS Setup itself for more information on the hardware on your computer and the various BIOS and hardware settings currently available.

To help with load times or to display a company logo this screen may not be viewable. If this is the case try the below alternate resolutions.

Through Windows System Information

The BIOS information is also shown through the Windows System Information. To open this tool click START, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then System Information. If you're running Windows Vista or Windows 7, type System Information in the Start search box.

This opens the System Information window, displaying information about your computer, including the type of BIOS you have and the version, under the System Summary section. As can be seen in the picture below, this computer has a DELL BIOS version 1.0.0 with a Date of 11/5/2008.

In the Windows Registry

You can also find BIOS information in the Windows System Registry. This area is a bit more dangerous to navigate around, as you can change values that could affect how Windows operates. So be careful if you choose to use this option to view your BIOS information.

To access the System Registry, click START and in the Run or Search box type regedit in the text field and press enter. In the Windows Registry navigate to the below registry directory.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System

Find the subkeys SystemBiosDate and SystemBiosVersion to see the BIOS and version for your motherboard. As can be seen in the picture below, the BIOS date and version are shown in these two keys.

Finding BIOS date through debug routine

Earlier computers that do not have access to the above tools can also use the MS-DOS and Windows command line debug command to view the BIOS date, as shown below.

At the C:\> Type the below commands.

 debug
- d FFFF:5 L 8

After typing the above command, you should receive a string similar to the example below.

FFFF:0000 30 34 2F-33 30 2F 39 38 4/30/98

The 4/30/98 would be the date of your computer BIOS.

No power or computer does not turn on

Notice: If the computer is turning on but is not posting (beeping) or giving any picture on the display, see POST troubleshooting. This page also does not cover a laptop computer that is not turning on.

If you are uncertain if the computer is turning on or not, this can be checked by locating any fans in the computer or visible from the outside of the computer. If these fans are spinning, the computer is receiving power and this document may not apply to your issue.

Connections not connected properly

Verify that the power connection is connected properly to the wall and the back of the computer. If the connections appear to be connected properly, disconnect, and reconnection both ends of the power cord to make sure the cable is not loose.

If you have a power strip (surge protector) or switch used to turn everything on at once, temporarily disconnect the computer from that switch and connect that cable directly to the wall. This helps verify that the strip or switch is not bad.

Verify that the outlet works by connecting a different component to that switch.

Third-party hardware

If additional hardware has been recently added to the computer it is recommend that you temporarily disconnect that device or devices from the computer to verify they are not preventing your computer from turning on.

Note: If the computer was working fine before you added the new hardware, removing the third-party hardware did not resolve the issue, and the computer is not beeping but is turning on, see the POST troubleshooting steps.

Bad power cable

Verify that the cable supplying your computer is not bad or damaged by using another power cable. If you have a standard CRT monitor, this cable can be used in place of the computer power cable.

If you have a portable computer or laptop, when the cables are plugged into the laptop you should see a power light or battery charge light. If this light is seen, this is a good indication that the power cable is good.

Incorrect power supply

If you are building your own computer or if the computer has never turned on since you purchased it, you may have a power supply that does not supply enough power or the incorrect power supply. Verify your power supply meets the requirements of your motherboard and processor.

• How do I determine how big my power supply is?
• How big of a computer power supply should I get?

Bad battery

If your computer is a laptop or portable computer that utilizes a battery for mobility it may be causing your issue.

• If your computer powers on when the cable is connected to the portable computer but not when it is disconnected, we recommend you purchase a new battery.
• If your computer does not power on when the battery is connected and when the power cable or charger cable is connected, try removing the battery and seeing if the computer can power on with only the power cable connected. If no power is still received, skip to the final section.

Bad power supply, power button, power board, or inverter

If, after following the above sections, your computer still receives no power, it is likely that a hardware component in the computer has failed. It is most likely that the power supply has failed. If you do not plan on replacing the power supply yourself or if you have a portable computer, we recommend having the computer serviced by your computer manufacturer or a local computer repair shop.

If you have a desktop computer and plan on trying to repair the computer yourself, we recommend you replace the components in your computer in the below order.

1. First open the computer and verify the power connections. Also, consider disconnecting the main power cable and reconnecting the power cable to make sure it has not become loose. Also, verify the power button cable is correctly connected to the Motherboard.
2. Replace the power supply with a new power supply.
3. Replace the motherboard.

HTML color codes and names

HTML color codes are hexadecimal triplets representing the colors red, green, and blue (#RRGGBB). For example, in the color red, the color code is #FF0000, which is '255' red, '0' green, and '0' blue. These color codes can be used to change the color of the background, text, and tables on a web page.

• Major hexadecimal color codes
• Color Code Chart
• Top 50 most viewed colors
• Changing font color on a web page using CSS and FONT tags.
• All questions relating to CSS and HTML colors.
• HTML help

Major hexadecimal color codes

Below are some of the common color names and codes. With these colors, you can also use the color name. For example, in HTML tags and CSS that use color codes, you could use "red" instead of "#FF0000".

Color Name	Color Code	Color Name	Color Code
Red	#FF0000	White	#FFFFFF
Cyan	#00FFFF	Silver	#C0C0C0
Blue	#0000FF	Gray or Grey	#808080
DarkBlue	#0000A0	Black	#000000
LightBlue	#ADD8E6	Orange	#FFA500
Purple	#800080	Brown	#A52A2A
Yellow	#FFFF00	Maroon	#800000
Lime	#00FF00	Green	#008000
Magenta	#FF00FF	Olive	#808000

Color code chart

Tip: Use our HTML color picker if you need to choose from an almost infinite variety of colors.

Blacks - Grays - Blues - Greens - Yellows - Browns - Orange - Reds - Pinks - Purples

Code	Color
#000000	Black
#0C090A	Night
#2C3539	Gunmetal
#2B1B17	Midnight
#34282C	Charcoal
#25383C	Dark Slate Grey
#3B3131	Oil
#413839	Black Cat
#3D3C3A	Iridium
#463E3F	Black Eel
#4C4646	Black Cow
#504A4B	Gray Wolf
#565051	Vampire Gray
#5C5858	Gray Dolphin
#625D5D	Carbon Gray
#666362	Ash Gray
#6D6968	Cloudy Gray
#726E6D	Smokey Gray
#736F6E	Gray
#837E7C	Granite
#848482	Battleship Gray
#B6B6B4	Gray Cloud
#D1D0CE	Gray Goose
#E5E4E2	Platinum
#BCC6CC	Metallic Silver
#98AFC7	Blue Gray
#6D7B8D	Light Slate Gray
#657383	Slate Gray
#616D7E	Jet Gray
#646D7E	Mist Blue
#566D	Marble Blue
#737CA1	Slate Blue
#4863A0	Steel Blue
#2B547E	Blue Jay
#2B3856	Dark Slate Blue
#151B54	Midnight Blue
#000080	Navy Blue
#342D7E	Blue Whale
#15317E	Lapis Blue
#151B8D	Cornflower Blue
#0000A0	Earth Blue
#0020C2	Cobalt Blue
#0041C2	Blueberry Blue
#2554C7	Sapphire Blue
#1569C7	Blue Eyes
#2B60DE	Royal Blue
#1F45FC	Blue Orchid
#6960EC	Blue Lotus
#736AFF	Light Slate Blue
#357EC7	Slate Blue
#368BC1	Glacial Blue Ice
#488AC7	Silk Blue
#3090C7	Blue Ivy
#659EC7	Blue Koi
#87AFC7	Columbia Blue
#95B9C7	Baby Blue
#728FCE	Light Steel Blue
#2B65EC	Ocean Blue
#306EFF	Blue Ribbon
#157DEC	Blue Dress
#1589FF	Dodger Blue
#6495ED	Cornflower Blue
#6698FF	Sky Blue
#38ACEC	Butterfly Blue
#56A5EC	Iceberg
#5CB3FF	Crystal Blue
#3BB9FF	Deep Sky Blue
#79BAEC	Denim Blue
#82CAFA	Light Sky Blue
#82CAFF	Day Sky Blue
#A0CFEC	Jeans Blue
#B7CEEC	Blue Angel
#B4CFEC	Pastel Blue
#C2DFFF	Sea Blue
#C6DEFF	Powder Blue
#AFDCEC	Coral Blue
#ADDFFF	Light Blue
#BDEDFF	Robin Egg Blue
#CFECEC	Pale Blue Lily
#E0FFFF	Light Cyan
#EBF4FA	Water
#F0F8FF	AliceBlue
#F0FFFF	Azure
#CCFFFF	Light Slate
#93FFE8	Light Aquamarine
#9AFEFF	Electric Blue
#7FFFD4	Aquamarine
#00FFFF	Cyan or Aqua
#7DFDFE	Tron Blue
#57FEFF	Blue Zircon
#8EEBEC	Blue Lagoon
#50EBEC	Celeste
#4EE2EC	Blue Diamond
#81D8D0	Tiffany Blue
#92C7C7	Cyan Opaque
#77BFC7	Blue Hosta
#78C7C7	Northern Lights Blue
#48CCCD	Medium Turquoise
#43C6DB	Turquoise
#46C7C7	Jellyfish
#43BFC7	Macaw Blue Green
#3EA99F	Light Sea Green
#3B9C9C	Dark Turquoise
#438D80	Sea Turtle Green
#348781	Medium Aquamarine
#307D7E	Greenish Blue
#5E7D7E	Grayish Turquoise
#4C787E	Beetle Green
#008080	Teal
#4E8975	Sea Green
#78866B	Camouflage Green
#848b79	Sage Green
#617C58	Hazel Green
#728C00	Venom Green
#667C26	Fern Green
#254117	Dark Forrest Green
#306754	Medium Sea Green
#347235	Medium Forest Green
#437C17	Seaweed Green
#387C44	Pine Green
#347C2C	Jungle Green
#347C17	Shamrock Green
#348017	Medium Spring Green
#4E9258	Forest Green
#6AA121	Green Onion
#4AA02C	Spring Green
#41A317	Lime Green
#3EA055	Clover Green
#6CBB3C	Green Snake
#6CC417	Alien Green
#4CC417	Green Apple
#52D017	Yellow Green
#4CC552	Kelly Green
#54C571	Zombie Green
#99C68E	Frog Green
#89C35C	Green Peas
#85BB65	Dollar Bill Green
#8BB381	Dark Sea Green
#9CB071	Iguana Green
#B2C248	Avocado Green
#9DC209	Pistachio Green
#A1C935	Salad Green
#7FE817	Hummingbird Green
#59E817	Nebula Green
#57E964	Stoplight Go Green
#64E986	Algae Green
#5EFB6E	Jade Green
#00FF00	Green
#5FFB17	Emerald Green
#87F717	Lawn Green
#8AFB17	Chartreuse
#6AFB92	Dragon Green
#98FF98	Mint green
#B5EAAA	Green Thumb
#C3FDB8	Light Jade
#CCFB5D	Tea Green
#B1FB17	Green Yellow
#BCE954	Slime Green
#EDDA74	Goldenrod
#EDE275	Harvest Gold
#FFE87C	Sun Yellow
#FFFF00	Yellow
#FFF380	Corn Yellow
#FFFFC2	Parchment
#FFFFCC	Cream
#FFF8C6	Lemon Chiffon
#FFF8DC	Cornsilk
#F5F5DC	Beige
#FBF6D9	Blonde
#FAEBD7	AntiqueWhite
#F7E7CE	Champagne
#FFEBCD	BlanchedAlmond
#F3E5AB	Vanilla
#ECE5B6	Tan Brown
#FFE5B4	Peach
#FFDB58	Mustard
#FFD801	Rubber Ducky Yellow
#FDD017	Bright Gold
#EAC117	Golden brown
#F2BB66	Macaroni and Cheese
#FBB917	Saffron
#FBB117	Beer
#FFA62F	Cantaloupe
#E9AB17	Bee Yellow
#E2A76F	Brown Sugar
#DEB887	BurlyWood
#FFCBA4	Deep Peach
#C9BE62	Ginger Brown
#E8A317	School Bus Yellow
#EE9A4D	Sandy Brown
#C8B560	Fall Leaf Brown
#D4A017	Orange Gold
#C2B280	Sand
#C7A317	Cookie Brown
#C68E17	Caramel
#B5A642	Brass
#ADA96E	Khaki
#C19A6B	Camel brown
#CD7F32	Bronze
#C88141	Tiger Orange
#C58917	Cinnamon
#AF9B60	Bullet Shell
#AF7817	Dark Goldenrod
#B87333	Copper
#966F33	Wood
#806517	Oak Brown
#827839	Moccasin
#827B60	Army Brown
#786D5F	Sandstone
#493D26	Mocha
#483C32	Taupe
#6F4E37	Coffee
#835C3B	Brown Bear
#7F5217	Red Dirt
#7F462C	Sepia
#C47451	Orange Salmon
#C36241	Rust
#C35817	Red Fox
#C85A17	Chocolate
#CC6600	Sedona
#E56717	Papaya Orange
#E66C2C	Halloween Orange
#F87217	Pumpkin Orange
#F87431	Construction Cone Orange
#E67451	Sunrise Orange
#FF8040	Mango Orange
#F88017	Dark Orange
#FF7F50	Coral
#F88158	Basket Ball Orange
#F9966B	Light Salmon
#E78A61	Tangerine
#E18B6B	Dark Salmon
#E77471	Light Coral
#F75D59	Bean Red
#E55451	Valentine Red
#E55B3C	Shocking Orange
#FF0000	Red
#FF2400	Scarlet
#F62217	Ruby Red
#F70D1A	Ferrari Red
#F62817	Fire Engine Red
#E42217	Lava Red
#E41B17	Love Red
#DC381F	Grapefruit
#C34A2C	Chestnut Red
#C24641	Cherry Red
#C04000	Mahogany
#C11B17	Chilli Pepper
#9F000F	Cranberry
#990012	Red Wine
#8C001A	Burgundy
#954535	Chestnut
#7E3517	Blood Red
#8A4117	Sienna
#7E3817	Sangria
#800517	Firebrick
#810541	Maroon
#7D0541	Plum Pie
#7E354D	Velvet Maroon
#7D0552	Plum Velvet
#7F4E52	Rosy Finch
#7F5A58	Puce
#7F525D	Dull Purple
#B38481	Rosy Brown
#C5908E	Khaki Rose
#C48189	Pink Bow
#C48793	Lipstick Pink
#E8ADAA	Rose
#EDC9AF	Desert Sand
#FDD7E4	Pig Pink
#FCDFFF	Cotton Candy
#FFDFDD	Pink Bubblegum
#FBBBB9	Misty Rose
#FAAFBE	Pink
#FAAFBA	Light Pink
#F9A7B0	Flamingo Pink
#E7A1B0	Pink Rose
#E799A3	Pink Daisy
#E38AAE	Cadillac Pink
#F778A1	Carnation Pink
#E56E94	Blush Red
#F660AB	Hot Pink
#FC6C85	Watermelon Pink
#F6358A	Violet Red
#F52887	Deep Pink
#E45E9D	Pink Cupcake
#E4287C	Pink Lemonade
#F535AA	Neon Pink
#FF00FF	Magenta
#E3319D	Dimorphotheca Magenta
#F433FF	Bright Neon Pink
#D16587	Pale Violet Red
#C25A7C	Tulip Pink
#CA226B	Medium Violet Red
#C12869	Rogue Pink
#C12267	Burnt Pink
#C25283	Bashful Pink
#C12283	Carnation Pink
#B93B8F	Plum
#7E587E	Viola Purple
#571B7E	Purple Iris
#583759	Plum Purple
#4B0082	Indigo
#461B7E	Purple Monster
#4E387E	Purple Haze
#614051	Eggplant
#5E5A80	Grape
#6A287E	Purple Jam
#7D1B7E	Dark Orchid
#A74AC7	Purple Flower
#B048B5	Medium Orchid
#6C2DC7	Purple Amethyst
#842DCE	Dark Violet
#8D38C9	Violet
#7A5DC7	Purple Sage Bush
#7F38EC	Lovely Purple
#8E35EF	Purple
#893BFF	Aztech Purple
#8467D7	Medium Purple
#A23BEC	Jasmine Purple
#B041FF	Purple Daffodil
#C45AEC	Tyrian Purple
#9172EC	Crocus Purple
#9E7BFF	Purple Mimosa
#D462FF	Heliotrope Purple
#E238EC	Crimson
#C38EC7	Purple Dragon
#C8A2C8	Lilac
#E6A9EC	Blush Pink
#E0B0FF	Mauve
#C6AEC7	Wisteria Purple
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My computer is running slow what steps can I do to fix it?

 

 

Tip: This page only covers an overall slow computer and not a computer that has a slow boot up or slow Internet.

Below are steps for Microsoft Windows users that can help speed up the computer or determine why the computer is running slow.

Reboot

If your computer has not been rebooted recently, make sure to reboot it before following any of the steps below.

Background programs

One of the most common reasons for a slow computer are programs running in the background. Remove or disable any TSRs and startup programs that automatically start each time the computer boots.

Tip: To see what programs are running in the background and how much memory and CPU they are using, open Task Manager. If you are running Windows 7 or higher, run Resmon to get a better understanding of how your computer is being used.

If you have an antivirus scanner on the computer, spyware protection program, or another security utility, make sure it is not scanning your computer in the background. If a scan is in progress, it can decrease the overall performance of your computer.

Delete temp files

As a computer runs programs, accesses web pages, and is being used in general, temporary files are being stored on the hard drive. Deleting these temp files can help improve computer performance.

First, we suggest using the Windows Disk Cleanup utility to delete temporary files and other files no longer needed on the computer.

Unfortunately, the Disk Cleanup may not delete all of the files in the temp directory. Therefore, we also suggest deleting temporary files manually by opening the Start menu and enter %temp% in the Search field (in Windows XP and prior, click the Run option in the Start menu and enter %temp% in the Run field). Press Enter and a Temp folder should open. You can delete all files found in this folder and if any files are in use they can be skipped.

Free hard drive space

Verify that there is at least 200-500MB of free hard drive space. This available space allows the computer to have room for the swap file to increase in size, as well as room for temporary files.

• Determining available hard drive space.
• Regaining computer hard drive space.

Bad, corrupted or fragmented hard drive

• Run ScanDisk, chkdsk, or something equivalent to verify there is nothing physically wrong with the computer's hard drive.
• Run Defrag to help ensure that data is arranged in the best possible order.
• Use other software tools to test the hard drive for any errors by looking at the SMART of the drive.

Scan for malware

Today, spyware and other malware is a big cause of many computer problems, including a slow computer. Even if an antivirus scanner is installed on the computer, we recommend running a malware scan on the computer. Use the free version of Malwarebytes to scan your computer for malware.

Scan for viruses

If your computer is infected with one or more viruses, this can cause your computer to run slow. If your computer does not have an antivirus program installed, you can run Trend Micro's free Housecall online utility to check for viruses on your computer, as well as remove them. It is also recommended that you install an antivirus program for active protection against viruses.

Hardware conflicts

• Verify that the Device Manager has no conflicts. If any exist, resolve these issues as they could be the cause of your problem.

Update Windows

• Make sure you have all the latest Windows updates installed on the computer.
• If you are on the Internet when your computer is slow, make sure all browser plugins are up-to-date.

Update your drivers

Make sure you have got the latest drivers for your computer, especially the latest video drivers. Having out-of-date drivers can cause an assortment of issues, including slow performance.

Reboot computer again

If you have done any of the above steps but your computer is still acting slow try rebooting the computer again at this point.

Memory upgrade

If you have had your computer for more than two years, you may need more memory. Today, we suggest computers have a minimum of 1GB of memory (RAM) for 32-bit system and 2GB for a 64-bit system. By having enough memory for programs to run within memory, your computer will not need to swap information stored within memory to the swap file. If your computer hard drive light is constantly active, its a good indication that your computer is swapping information between your memory and hard drive because of the lack of space in memory.

• Determining how much RAM is installed and available.
• How much memory or RAM should my computer have?
• What type of computer memory to use in a memory upgrade?
  

Hard drive upgrade

One of the biggest bottlenecks of a computer is the hard disk drive. For anyone with a slow computer or just looking for something to upgrade in the computer to improve overall system performance, upgrading from a traditional hard drive to a Solid State Drive (SSD) will significantly improve the overall system performance.

Run registry cleaner

We normally do not recommend registry cleaners. However, if you have followed all of the above steps and your computer is still slow, try running a registry cleaner on the computer.

Computer or processor is overheating

Make sure your computer and processor is not overheating. Excessive heat can cause a significant decrease in computer performance because most processors automatically reduce the speed of the processor to help compensate for the heat related issues.

• What temperature should my processor be running at?

Dust, dirt, and hair can also constrict proper air flow inside your computer, which can cause a computer to overheat. Make sure your computer case is clean and fans are not obstructed.

• Steps on cleaning your computer.

Erase computer and start over

If none of the above solutions resolve your issues, another option is to either reinstall Windows or erase everything and then start over.

Erasing everything and starting over can increase performance by getting rid of old software or drivers that may be on the computer and causing the computer to be slow. Installing a fresh copy of Windows, software programs, and the latest drivers help verify there is no software related issues causing your computer to be slow.

Hardware issues

Finally, if your computer continues to be slower than normal after going over each of the above recommendations (including erasing and starting over), it's possible that your computer is experiencing a more serious hardware related issue such as a failing component in the computer. This could be a failing or bad hard drive, CPU, RAM, motherboard, or other component.

Old computer

If your computer is older than five years, the age of the computer could be the cause of the slow performance. Computers advance in technology and capabilities and newer, more advanced software programs come out to run properly on the new computers. Older computers are not able to run the new programs as well, which can cause them to slow down. If your computer is older than five years, we suggest purchasing a new computer or accept that, if all the above options do not work to speed up your computer, it will just run slower than a newer computer.

Microsoft DOS diskpart command

About diskpart

Syntax

Windows Vista and 7 diskpart command syntax
Recovery Console diskpart command syntax

Windows Vista and 7 diskpart command syntax

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: COMPUTERHOPE

Microsoft DiskPart syntax:
diskpart [/s <script>] [/?]

/s <script>	Use a DiskPart script.
/?	Show this help screen.

Typing diskpart from an elevated command prompt will enter the "DISKPART>" prompt. From this prompt, the below commands are available. These commands are also available from a DiskPart script.

ACTIVE	Mark the selected partition as active.
ADD	Add a mirror to a simple volume.
ASSIGN	Assign a drive letter or mount point to the selected volume.
ATTRIBUTES	Manipulate volume or disk attributes.
ATTACH	Attaches a virtual disk file.
AUTOMOUNT	Enable and disable automatic mounting of basic volumes.
BREAK	Break a mirror set.
CLEAN	Clear the configuration information, or all information, off the disk.
COMPACT	Attempts to reduce the physical size of the file.
CONVERT	Convert between different disk formats.
CREATE	Create a volume, partition, or virtual disk.
DELETE	Delete an object.
DETAIL	Provide details about an object.
DETACH	Detaches a virtual disk file.
EXIT	Exit DiskPart.
EXTEND	Extend a volume.
EXPAND	Expands the maximum size available on a virtual disk.
FILESYSTEMS	Display current and supported file systems on the volume.
FORMAT	Format the volume or partition.
GPT	Assign attributes to the selected GPT partition.
HELP	Display a list of commands.
IMPORT	Import a disk group.
INACTIVE	Mark the selected partition as inactive.
LIST	Display a list of objects.
MERGE	Merges a child disk with its parents.
ONLINE	Online an object that is currently marked as offline.
OFFLINE	Offline an object that is currently marked as online.
RECOVER	Refreshes the state of all disks in the selected pack. Attempts recovery on disks in the invalid pack, and resynchronizes mirrored volumes and RAID5 volumes that have stale plex or parity data.
REM	Does nothing. This is used to comment scripts.
REMOVE	Remove a drive letter or mount point assignment.
REPAIR	Repair a RAID-5 volume with a failed member.
RESCAN	Rescan the computer looking for disks and volumes.
RETAIN	Place a retained partition under a simple volume.
SAN	Display or set the SAN policy for the currently booted OS.
SELECT	Shift the focus to an object.
SETID	Change the partition type.
SHRINK	Reduce the size of the selected volume.
UNIQUEID	Displays or sets the GUID partition table (GPT) identifier or master boot record (MBR) signature of a disk.

Recovery Console diskpart command syntax

Creates and deletes partitions on a hard drive. The below diskpart command information is only available when you are using the Recovery Console.

diskpart [/add | /delete] [device_name | drive_name | partition_name] [size]

/add	Creates a new partition.
/delete	Deletes an existing partition.
device_name	The device you want to create or delete a partition. The name can be obtained from the output of the map command.
drive_name	The partition you want to delete, by drive letter. Used only with /delete.
partition_name	The partition you want to delete, by partition name. Can be used in place of the drive_name. Used only with /delete.
size	The size, in megabytes (MB), of the partition you want to create. Used only with /add.

Examples

Diskpart

Typing diskpart without any additional switches or options opens a new DISKPART> prompt and allow all the above commands to be entered. For example, while at the DISKPART> prompt you can type: LIST DISK and get an output similar to the example below.

Disk ### -------------- Disk 0 Disk 1 Disk 2 Disk 3 Disk 4 Disk 5

Status -------------- Online Online No Media No Media No Media No Media

Size -------------- 119 GB 2047 GB 0 B 0 B 0 B 0 B

Free -------------- 0 B 0 B 0 B 0 B 0 B 0 B

Dyn --------------

Gpt --------------

Note: When entering the diskpart command in some versions of Windows you may receive a UAC warning. You must accept this warning before diskpart can open.

Tip: To exit the DISKPART> prompt type exit and press enter.

diskpart /delete D:

In the above example, the D: partition would be deleted.

diskpart /add \Device\HardDisk0 20

In the above example, a 20MB would be created on the HardDisk0 device. This name is obtained from the map command.

My laptop mouse touchpad is not working

When the touchpad stops working, there are a few things you can do to try and fix it or work around the issue.

Tip: Since some of the settings do require you to navigate the mouse cursor for troubleshooting purposes use the Trackpoint, PS/2, or USB mouse a temporary fix. If you cannot get the mouse to work see our navigating Windows with the keyboard page for tips on how to use the keyboard to navigate in Windows.

Other USB device

Some USB and PS/2 devices, especially any USB input device (including a computer mouse), can disable the touchpad. As a troubleshooting step, turn off the computer, disconnect all USB devices, then start the computer again to make sure no other device is disabling the touchpad. If this fixes your problem, but the touchpad is disabled again, the next time you connect the device, check your touchpad software settings for a setting that can prevent this from happening.

Check mouse settings

First, in the Windows Control Panel, access the mouse settings and verify the touchpad is enabled. Also, you can adjust the sensitivity of the touchpad to work best for your fingers. Check these settings to make sure something was not disabled or adjusted to cause the touchpad to not work.

Check Device Manager

Second, open the Device Manager and check through the device list and find the touchpad. Check to see that it is enabled. If disabled, re-enable it and test the touchpad. If it is already enabled, change it to disabled, then re-enable it again. Sometimes toggling this setting can kick-start the touchpad into working again.

If there are any yellow exclamation marks, red X's or "Other devices" in Device Manager, any of these errors can indicate there is a problem with hardware in your computer that may be causing the touchpad problems.

• Identifying problems in Windows Device Manager.

Check CMOS (BIOS) setup

Make sure the touchpad has not been disabled in the CMOS (BIOS) setup. In the setup, check the hardware device settings and see if the touchpad is enabled or disabled. If disabled, re-enable it, restart the laptop, and test the touchpad.

• How to enter the BIOS or CMOS setup.

Software driver issues

If the above options do not fix the problem, the software driver for the touchpad may be corrupted or not updated enough to work correctly. Visit the laptop manufacturer's website and download the most current touchpad driver for your specific laptop model. Install the driver, restart the laptop, and test the touchpad to see if it works.

Hardware defect

Lastly, if the touchpad still is not working correctly or at all, you may need to take it to a computer repair shop and have it fixed. It could require replacement of the touchpad itself or another component in the laptop. If you cannot repair the touchpad, connect and use an external mouse as a workaround.

Getting into Windows Safe Mode

Microsoft Windows 8 users

To get into the Windows 8 Safe Mode, follow these steps:

1. When the computer is booting, press and hold the Shift key, and tap the F8 key repeatedly until the Recovery screen appears.
2. Click the See advanced repair options option on the Recovery screen.
3. On the "Choose an option" screen, click the Troubleshoot option.
4. On the "Troubleshoot" screen, click the Advanced options option.
5. On the "Advanced options" screen, click the Windows Startup Settings option.
6. On the "Windows Start Settings" screen, click the Restart option.

Note: If you have trouble getting to the Recovery screen in step 1 above, you may have to try it several times, with several reboots of your computer.

When the computer restarts, you should see the standard "Choose Advanced Options" screen, similar to the example below. Use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press your Enter key.

Choose Advanced Options for: Microsoft Windows 8 (Use the arrow keys to highlight your choice.) Repair Your Computer Safe Mode Safe Mode with Networking Safe Mode with Command Prompt Enable Boot Logging Enable low-resolution video Debugging Mode Disable automatic restart on system failure Disable Driver Signature Enforcement Disable Early Launch Anti-Malware Driver Start Windows Normally Description: Start Windows with only the core drivers and services. Use when you cannot boot after installing a new device or driver.

Another option for accessing Safe Mode in Windows 8 is to do the following:

1. Press the Windows key and the R key together to access the "Run" option.
2. Type msconfig in the "Open" field.
3. In the "System Configuration" window, click on the Boot tab.
4. On the bottom left, in the "Boot options" section, check the box for Safe boot.
5. Select the Minimal option and click the OK button.
6. Restart the computer and it should load into Safe Mode automatically.

Note: If you use the above option to access Safe Mode, you need to follow the same steps once in Safe Mode and uncheck the Safe boot option. Otherwise, your computer will continue to automatically boot into Safe Mode each time you restart the computer.

Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Vista users

Tip: If you are running Safe Mode because you cannot get into Windows, you may want to first try loading the last known good configuration.

To get into the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Safe Mode, as the computer is booting, press and hold your "F8 Key", which should bring up the "Choose Advanced Options" screen as shown below. Use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press your Enter key.

Note: With some computers, if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting, you will get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the "F8 key", tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu.

Trouble Getting into Safe mode - If after several attempts you are unable to get the Windows Advanced Options Menu screen to come up by pressing F8, turn off your computer while it is loading into Windows. When the computer is turned on the next time, Windows should notice that the computer did not successfully boot and give you the Safe Mode screen.

Choose Advanced Options for: Microsoft Windows Vista Please select an option: Safe Mode Safe Mode with Networking Safe Mode with Command Prompt Enable Boot Logging Enable low-resolution video (640x480) Last Known Good Configuration (advanced) Directory Services Restore Mode Debugging Mode Disable automatic restart on system failure Disable Driver Signature Enforcement Start Windows Normally Description: Start Windows with only the core drivers and services. Use when you cannot boot after installing a new device or driver.

Once you're done in Safe Mode, if you want to get back into normal Windows, restart the computer like you normally would and let it start up normally. Click here to get additional information about getting out of Safe mode.

Another option for accessing Safe Mode in Windows 7 or Windows Vista is to do the following:

1. Press the Windows key and the R key together to access the "Run" option.
2. Type msconfig in the "Open" field.
3. In the "System Configuration" window, click on the Boot tab.
4. On the bottom left, in the "Boot options" section, check the box for Safe boot.
5. Select the Minimal option and click the OK button.
6. Restart the computer and it should load into Safe Mode automatically.

Note: If you use the above option to access Safe Mode, you need to follow the same steps once in Safe Mode and uncheck the Safe boot option. Otherwise, your computer will continue to automatically boot into Safe Mode each time you restart the computer.

Windows XP and Windows 2000 users

Tip: If you are running Safe Mode because you cannot get into Windows, you may want to first try loading the last known good configuration.

To get into the Windows 2000 and XP Safe mode, as the computer is booting, press and hold your "F8 Key", which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" screen as shown below. Use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press your Enter key.

Note: With some computers, if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting, you will get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the "F8 key", tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu.

Trouble Getting into Windows 2000 or Windows XP Safe mode - If after several attempts you are unable to get the Windows Advanced Options Menu screen to come up by pressing F8, turn off your computer while it is loading into Windows. When the computer is turned on the next time, Windows should notice that the computer did not successfully boot and give you the Safe Mode screen.

Windows Advanced Options Menu Please select an option: Safe Mode Safe Mode with Networking Safe Mode with Command Prompt Enable Boot Logging Enable VGA mode Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked) Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only) Debugging Mode Start Windows Normally Reboot Return to OS Choices Menu Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice.

Once you're done in Safe Mode, if you want to get back into normal Windows, restart the computer like you normally would and let it start up normally. Click here to get additional information about getting out of Safe Mode.

Windows 98 and Windows ME users

To get into Windows 98 and ME Safe Mode, as the computer is booting, press and hold your "F8 key" on the top of your keyboard or press and hold the left or right Ctrl key as the computer is booting. If done properly, you should see the "Windows 98 Startup Menu" or "Windows ME Startup Menu" screen, similar to the example below. In this menu, choose option 3 by pressing the 3 key and press Enter.

Note: With some computers, if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting, you will get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the "F8 key", tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu.

Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu ============================= 1. Normal 2. Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT) 3. Safe mode 4. Step-by-step confirmation 5. Command prompt only 6. Safe mode command prompt only Enter a choice: 1 F5=Safe Mode Shift+F5=Command prompt Shift+F8= Step-by-step confirmation [N]

Once you're done in Safe Mode, if you want to get back into normal Windows, restart the computer like you normally would and let it boot normally. Click here to get additional information about getting out of Safe mode.

Windows 95 users

To get into Windows 95 Safe Mode, as the computer is booting, when you either hear a beep or when you see the message "Starting Windows 95", press your F8 key on the top of your keyboard. If done properly, you should see the "Windows 95 Startup Menu" screen, similar to the example below. In this menu, choose option 3 by pressing the 3 key and press Enter.

Microsoft Windows 95 Startup Menu ============================= 1. Normal 2. Logged (\BOOTLOG.TXT) 3. Safe mode 4. Step-by-step confirmation 5. Command prompt only 6. Safe mode command prompt only Enter a choice: 1 F5=Safe Mode Shift+F5=Command prompt Shift+F8= Step-by-step confirmation [N]

Once you're done in Safe Mode, if you want to get back into normal Windows, restart the computer like you normally would and let it boot normally. Click here to get additional information about getting out of Safe mode.

How do I get out of Safe Mode?

From Windows Safe Mode, click Start, Shutdown, and restart the computer. This will start the computer automatically back into Normal Mode.

Note: Many users believe that they are still in Safe Mode because the colors or video may not look correct. Unless in the corners of the screen it says "Safe Mode", you are not in Safe Mode. For information on how to setup your video card resolution, see document CH000190.

If you are rebooting the computer and it is rebooting back into Safe Mode (it does say "Safe Mode" in each of the corners), it is likely another problem exists with Windows preventing it from loading into Normal Windows. We recommend you see the basic troubleshooting section for additional ideas that may help to resolve your issue.

Which Safe Mode option should I choose?

Users who are running later versions of Windows will get different options for different versions of Safe Mode. For example, you may have options for "Safe Mode", "Safe Mode with Networking", and "Safe Mode with Command Prompt." Below is a brief description of each of these different modes.

Safe Mode

The basic Safe Mode option is usually what most users will want to choose when troubleshooting their computer. This is the most basic Safe Mode option and has no additional support.

Safe Mode with Networking

For users needing access to the Internet or the network they're connected to while in Safe Mode, users may want to choose this option. This mode is helpful for when you need to be in Safe Mode to troubleshoot, but also need access to the Internet so you can get updates, drivers, or other files to help troubleshoot your issue.

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

This Safe Mode allows you to have access to the command line (MS-DOS prompt).