I love productivity… I find myself constantly striving to increase mine. This article from Microsoft at Work gives you tips and tricks to be more productive in Windows… who couldn’t use that? The tips include:

• Printing from Windows Explorer
• Pinning programs to the start menu (one of my favorites)
• Using small icons on your start menu
• Searching for files in a folder
• Sending an email attachment from anywhere on your computer

I suggest hitting the site to read the full details of how to do each one of these. It’s a good read, and worth the time.

5 productivity tips for Windows

Does your computer seem to be slowing down? Have you added any programs lately that seem to make your computer crawl on its knees whenever you launch it? Well your problem *could* be that you need more RAM (memory). In this article from Microsoft at Home, you will learn how to do just that, and *hopefully* make your computer and that new application a little happier.

What is RAM, you ask? Well, this explanation from the article is probably the most intuitive I have seen, so I am including it here for your benefit:

If the hard drive is the filing cabinet in which you store your documents, then memory, or RAM (random access memory), is the table you work on. The easiest way to get more space is to add extra leaves.

1. There are a few simple steps to take:
2. Determine how much RAM you have and how much you need
3. Figure out what type of RAM you require
4. Buy it (of course)
5. Install your new RAM

It’s not super difficult to do yourself. Like all things inside your computer, you have to take certain precautions, but it really is as simple as snapping the old memory out, and snapping the new memory in. Once you purchase your memory, it is usually about a 10 minute task to install.

If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, you can always call Dash Technical Solutions and we can help out.

I would suggest clicking through to the article, as there is a lot of good information that it provides for ensuring you purchase the correct kind, installation tips, etc.

Add more memory to your computer

A nice article from Microsoft at Work. I have the occasion to work from home, and while I am comfortable doing it, to many of my customers, it may not be second nature just yet, especially when it comes to maintaining the communications channels with people in the office. This article will help point you in the direction to learn what it takes to communicate better with your co-workers/supervisors/etc. when working from the comfort of your home (and maybe even your pajamas…!!!) The article offers up these 5 tips. I suggest clicking through to the article to read what each one means.

1. Make appointments
2. Stay focused in phone conferences
3. Attend weekly staff meetings
4. Stay online as much as possible
5. Be assertive

The link to the full article can be found below.

5 tips to communicate better from home

Well this is one way to do it. I wish I had this link when I was helping a couple of customers out recently… Outlook Express is not available for Windows 7, so your choice is Windows Live Mail if you are a current Outlook Express user.

This short article walks you through how to import mail and contacts from Outlook Express.

Of course, we would be happy to come out and help you. We’ve had plenty of practice now after all… Call today (313) 799-DASH (3274)

How do I import my Outlook Express or Windows Mail accounts into Windows 7 and Windows Live Mail?

Good podcast from Microsoft.

Find more great podcasts from Microsoft at: http://www.microsoft.com/events/podcasts/

Great article from Microsoft at Work

Everyone forgets the basics, which is what this article is all about. Getting back to the basics of maintaining your computer.

By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly. This article discusses how to use the tools available in Windows 7, Vista, and XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to more efficiently maintain your computer and safeguard your privacy when you're online.

I suggest reading through the whole article for the “hows”, but here are the “whats” summarized:

1. Free Up Disk Space (Cleanup)
2. Speed Up Access To Data (Defragment)
3. Detect and Repair Disk Errors (Check Disk)
4. Protect Your Computer Against Spyware
5. Learn All About ReadyBoost (Vista and Windows 7 only)

Go read the article now. Especially now that the picture-taking season is upon us. You’re going to need your computer to be performing at it’s peak.

Want some help with this? Call Dash Technical Solutions today and we’ll be able to help you out!

5 ways to speed up your PC