**In your WINDOWS folder, you'll find a text file called TIPS.TXT full of tips and tricks written by the Microsoft Windows 95 development team.**

**Other helpful files in your WINDOWS folder include: FAQ.TXT, PROGRAMS.TXT, MOUSE.TXT, README.TXT, and GENERAL.TXT.

Internet Tips & Jargon
Clueless when it comes to technobabble?  Need a concise list of terms described in everyday English?  Look no further than this link.

Searching, Surfing & Your Browser

1. BE SPECIFIC - Be as specific as possible when searching, using as many closely related terms for the object of your search as possible.  If there aren't many ways to describe what you want, use the most unusual word.  "Numismatics" is more likely than "collecting" to return pages on coin collecting.
   
   
2. USING QUOTATION MARKS IN A SEARCH - Putting quotes around a group of words will search for that exact phrase.  Continuing with the example, a search with the words coin collecting will yield sites which contain at least one of the words "coin" or "collecting" or both.  However, entering "coin collecting" (within quotes) for the search criteria will yield only those sites which contain those two words; together, in that exact order.
   
   
3. DON'T WAIT AROUND FOR NOTHING - After clicking on a link you may notice that your status bar will show either "Connecting to site...." or "Finding site....".  If either of these messages are displayed for an extended amount of time, first click on your Stop button and try the link again.  If it continues to take a long time to respond, don't wait around.  You may be waiting for a message that's going to tell you that the site no longer exists.  At the very least, the connection to that site is slow and probably not worth your time.  There's too much out there for you to be wasting time waiting for a slow server to respond, or for a connection to time out.
   
   
4. UPPER CASE vs. LOWER CASE - Searching with capital letters will only yield results that match the case exactly.  However, searching using lower case letters will yield all matches; upper case and lower case.

E-mail

1. COMPOSING EMAIL OFFLINE - When you're composing a new email message, or when you're simply reviewing old mail, you do not have to be online.   Internet Mail will automatically call up your connection (the "Connect To" window) when its asked to send or receive new messages.
   
   
2. INTERNET MAIL/OUTLOOK EXPRESS WITHOUT INTERNET EXPLORER - If all you want to do is send, receive, or write an email message, you do not have to open up Internet Explorer to get to Internet Mail/Outlook Express. 
   To open Internet Mail/Outlook Express:
       1. Click on your Start button,
       2. Up to Programs,
       3. And over to Internet Mail or Outlook Express
   Creating a shortcut to Internet Mail/Outlook Express on your Desktop is often a good idea.

General Tips & Information

1. RESTART YOUR COMPUTER - If you leave your computer turned on most of the time, it may be beneficial to "reboot" before you get online and start surfing (especially if the computer's last operations involved the internet or operating another resource intensive program).  You will definitely notice an increase in performance and fewer connecting problems.  The computer restarts with a "clean slate," so to speak, allowing your internet software fresh access to the computer's resources.
   
   
2. CUT & PASTE AND YOUR CLIPBOARD -  Your "Clipboard" is the temporary storage facility on your computer.   Think of it as being sort of a high tech wheelbarrow; but instead of hauling dirt or wood, you're hauling files and text.   The "Edit" menu of almost any program will contain the "Cut" "Copy" & "Paste" commands.
   
   
3. THE RIGHT CLICK - Placing your cursor over an icon, or anywhere on your computer, and clicking the right mouse button one time will give you a menu of functions and properties available for that particular file.  
   Example:  Right-clicking within any open space on your Windows desktop and choosing "Properties" will give you the "Display Properties" for your computer.  (Same as double-clicking the "Display" icon in your "Control Panel")  Basically, the right-click is a short cut, and it can be very handy.  The "Cut", "Copy" & "Paste" commands are almost always available in the right-click menu.
   
   
4. WEEKEND OR OFF-HOUR TROUBLES? - Checked out our TroubleShooting section, and you're still stumped?  Then you can report your situation to trouble@gwe.net and please be as specific as you can.   We'll be checking the "trouble" account periodically to help relieve your off-hour computer pains.
   
   

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