Volume Control’s Speaker Icon Returns With Ease
Q: I’ve lost the speaker icon on my Task bar that lets me control the volume on my speakers. How can I get it back?
--Tony G, Encino
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A: You can turn that speaker icon off and on easily. Double-click on My Computer and then on Multimedia. On the Audio tab you’ll find a box next to “Show volume control on the task bar.”
Click in that box to create a check mark and the speaker icon will appear in the System Tray on your Task bar. Remove the check mark by clicking on it and the speaker icon will no longer appear. In either case, click on OK to save the change you made and then close Control Panel.
Hiding the Assistant
Q: I use Microsoft Office and I find the “assistant” to be annoying. Is there a way that I can use an Office program without the assistant looking back at me?
--Michael D, Los Angeles
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A: You can right-click on the assistant and then select Hide. To get the assistant back again, click on the Question Mark button on the right side of the Standard tool bar, or press the F1 key.
Returning to Desktop
Q: Some times while I’m on the Internet I’ll need to get to my Desktop or to certain files. Is there a quick and easy way?
--Benjamin R, Sherman Oaks
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A: You have two choices here. You can hold down the Windows key on your keyboard located between the Ctrl and Alt keys and then press the D key. Your Desktop will appear. Pressing the Windows key and the D key is a toggle, so pressing the Windows key and the D key again will close your Desktop and take you back to where you started.
Note that not all keyboards have the Windows key. Here’s a way to get a cascading menu of your computer. Right-click on a blank space on your Task bar. Click on Tool bars and then select Desktop. You will then see Desktop and My Computer on your Task bar.
Place your cursor over the vertical bar that appears to the left of the word Desktop. When your cursor changes to a horizontal line with arrows at either side, click your left mouse button and while holding it down, drag it to the right so that only the word “Desktop” appears on the Task bar.
Now when you need access to anything, click on the right arrow next to Desktop and a cascading menu will open. Now you can easily get to My Computer, My Documents and other items you need.
Selection Printing
Q: I use Internet Explorer to search the Internet for articles related to the work I do. Is there a way to print out just selected parts of the text I’m reviewing or must I continue to print the entire article?
--David S, Chino Hills
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A: You can print selected parts of text by highlighting the text you are interested in and then clicking on File. Click on Print and then in the Print range box click in the circle next to Selection. Click OK to print your selected text.
Printer Properties
Q: I use my inkjet printer to produce black-and-white draft and color final documents. Each time I want to change from black-and-white to color I have to go into printer settings and make the changes. Isn’t there an easier way?
--Dr. Harry M, Beverly Hills
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A: The easiest way to solve this problem is to “install” your printer again. Click on Start and then on Settings. Click on Add Printer. Follow the instructions and select your printer.
Windows will tell you it already has a driver for that printer, so keep the same driver. Give the second printer an appropriate name such as “Color Docs.” When you have finished your installation, you’ll have two different printers available. Click on Start and then on Settings.
Click on Printers, and then, one printer at a time, click on Properties. Set up each printer with the settings you’ll be using for that particular printer.
Now, whenever you print a document, instead of clicking on the Printer icon, click on File and then on Print. You can then select either printer from the Print dialog box. Both printers will be listed by name. Click on the down arrow at the right side of the printer Name box to see both printers.
