|
DADDY BOB'S
COMPUTER Q & A
|
November
27, 2005
Q.
I have a file somewhere on my computer in a
.DOC file but I don't know the name of the
file. All I can remember is a phrase that is
in the document. How can I find it?
A.
You can use the Search facility that is part
of Windows. In previous versions before XP
it was called Find. Click Start, then
Search, then Files and Folders. In the
window that opens, click on All Files and
Folders. All this is pretty straight forward
until now.
Since you
don't know the file's name, you have to use
something called a "wildcard". Since the
days of DOS, and right up through XP, there
are two generally used wildcards. The (*)
asterisk, and the (?) question mark. The (*)
asterisk can be used in place of any number
of characters from 0 to infinity. Well,
maybe not that many, but at lease 255. The
(?) question mark can be used in place of
any single character.
Now,
since all we know about the file is that it
is a .DOC file, in the space for the file
name enter *.doc. This will find all .doc
type files.
Now,
enter the phrase that you know is in the
file, in its box, select where you want to
look, and click on Search. The search will
find and list the phrase you entered in any
and all of the .doc files where it exists.
To search
for a filename in which all you remember is
a word or two, again, just use a wildcard.
Suppose the filename you are looking for has
two words that you are sure of. Let's say
'question' and 'answer' are the 2 words. In
the filename box, enter *question*answer*.
Now the search will find every filename in
which those 2 words exist in that order.
Q. When I plug in my USB “Jump” drive, I get
a message about how it could respond faster
if I did something. What is it talking
about?
A. Computers since Windows 98 support
something called USB.
USB
(Universal Serial Bus) is a plug-and-play
interface between a computer and add-on
devices, such as audio players, joysticks,
keyboards, telephones, scanners, and
printers. With USB, a new device can be
added to your computer without having to add
an adapter card or even having to turn the
computer off. Theoretically, you can add up
to 127 devices via the USB interface.
The
original USB V1.1 can transfer data at
speeds up to 12 Mbps, Mega bits per second.
As a comparison, most modern modems are
rated at 56 Mbps. This was standard on
computers until a few years ago when USB V
2.0 was introduced. USB V2.0 can
transfer data at up to 480 Mbps, some 40
times faster than V1.1.
If your
computer gives you the message you
mentioned, then it is still using the older
V1.1 USB interface. It is fairly easy to
upgrade a computer to USB 2.0. Desktops can
add a PCI USB 2.0 card which usually has 4
USB ports on it. Laptops can use a PC card
which will probably have 2 USB ports.
Be
advised that not all USB devices like
cables, hubs, etc. designed for USB 1.1 will
work on USB 2.0. Also, each USB port can
supply up to 500 MA (Milli-Amps) of power.
If more USB ports are needed than your
computer has ports available, it may become
necessary to use an external USB Hub. It is
best that you use one that is "Self
Powered", that being one that has its own
power supply, and does not draw current from
the main computer, which can overload its
power supply.
Q. As I am not a touch typists, my Caps Lock
key get pressed and stays on and I
type too much in all caps before I notice
it. Can I change the Caps Lock key press so
it will be like the old fashioned
typewriter?
A.
For all you young folks that don't know or
remember what a typewriter is, it is what
was used to type letters before the
computer. On a typewriter keyboard, when you
pressed the Caps Lock, it would lock down
similar to the way it does on a Computer
keyboard. BUT when you then pressed the
Shift key, it would automatically release
the Caps Lock.
I have been troubled with this too, and yes,
there is a way a computer can be set to act
the same was as a typewriter. However, this
requires a modification to the registry
which is not something just everyone may
want to try. Therefore, I have written a
little program that will make this registry
modification for you. It will also undo it
should decide you don't want it changed.
This program is of course free, is 278 KB in
size, and can be
down loaded by clicking
HERE.
