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General Computer Tips

All of the information, instructions, and recommendations on this Web site are offered on a strictly "as is" basis. Remember "Murphy's Law." Please take the proper precautions before attempting any of the tips or modifications listed here.

Contents

• Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader Tips
• FinePrint Printer Settings
• Make Table Headers Always Visible
• How to Export Data and Table Structure From a MySQL Database Using phpMyAdmin
• How to access Dell Diagnostics from the utility partition on Dell OptiPlex computers
• IP Config Shortcut
• Configure Windows Explorer's Startup View
• Surge Protected Power Strip Failure
• Component Flash.ocx or one of its dependencies not correctly registered
• Computer Tips Index

FinePrint Printer Settings

What is FinePrint?

FinePrint lets you print multiple pages per physical page to reduce the amount of paper used in a printout. It also makes it easy to print on both sides of the paper on single sided printers.

How to Export Data and Table Structure From a MySQL Database Using phpMyAdmin 2.3.3pl1

1. In the left column of phpMyAdmin, click on the database name.
2. Click on the Export tab
   You should now be on the page that shows "View dump (schema) of database" under the tabs
3. Click on "Select All" or hold the Ctrl key down and click on the tables you want to export.
4. To the right of the list of tables, click on "Structure and data"
5. Below the list of tables, click on "Save as file"
6. Click the Go button, then save the file locally when prompted.

This will create a .php file that you can copy to and run on your Web server to create the tables and import the data into your database.

How to access Dell Diagnostics from the utility partition on Dell OptiPlex computers

To access the utility partition, perform the following steps:

1. Turn on the computer or shutdown and restart it if it is already powered on.
2. As the computer boots, right after the after the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock lights flash on the keyboard, press the Ctrl+Alt+F10 keys at the same time.

If the utility partition exists, the system boots to the Dell Diagnostics.

The Dell Diagnostics are also available for download.

IP Config Shortcut

Here's a shortcut to display what your current IP Address settings are for Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

1. Right click on an empty area of your Desktop and choose new > shortcut
2. When the Create Shortcut wizard appears, enter the following for "Type the location of the item:"
   %windir%\System32\CMD.exe /K "ipconfig /all"
3. Click next
4. Type ShowIP as the "name for this shortcut:"
5. Click Finish

If you right click on the ShowIP shortcut you just created, you should see:

Target: %windir%\System32\CMD.exe /K "ipconfig /all"

Change Start in: to \

Configure Windows Explorer's Startup View

Right click on the shortcut that runs Windows Explorer and mofify the target to look like this:

SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n,/e,/select,c:\ 

Surge Protected Power Strip Failure

It's wise to always use surge protected power strips for all your electronic equipment. The part of surge suppressors that protect against surges, the MOV's, won't last forever. They will wear out after a while.

I recommend that you get a surge protected power strip that has a light that indicates that the surge suppression circuit is working. If you're using a surge protected power strip that has no indication of whether the surge suppression circuitry is still fuctioning, you should replace it, since you won't know if your equipment is being protected.

Telephone and cable TV lines can also get surges, so you may want to get surge protection for them also.

Examples:

• Tripp Lite : TLP604, ISOBAR6,

Component 'Flash.ocx' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered

Issue:

When attempting to run Packet Tracer 3.2, or other Flash based applications, the following error is displayed:

Component 'Flash.ocx' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid

This is caused because the Macromedia Flash Plugin for Internet Explorer is not installed, misconfigured, or corrupt.

Fix:

1. Start Internet Explorer
2. Go to the Flash Player download page
3. Under "Also Install," uncheck the Yahoo! Toolbar
4. Click on the "Install Now" button
5. Once Flash is installed, exit from Internet Explorer
6. Start Packet Tracer 3.2
   

You can also download the full version of the Flash Player for Internet Explorer for offline installation.